Just in time for summer travel, luggage maker TUMI has launched a locator device to help travelers track lost baggage. The tracker, developed in partnership with the AT&T Foundry, uses GSM networks as well as GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Users can download a free iOS or Android app to track their luggage in real-time.
AT&T helped TUMI create a device that is compliant with Federal Aviation Administration standards. The TUMI tracker automatically powers down when a plane takes off, and remains idle during flight. Upon landing, the locator automatically starts transmitting again and sends a notification to the user’s smartphone with the bag’s location. Hopefully, the bag’s location and the user’s location are the same.
The $200 device measures 4.33 x 2.55 x 0.83 inches and weighs 150 grams. It was designed and developed by New Jersey’s LugTrack. Its sensor is an accelerometer that works in tandem with GPS.
TUMI said that when the device is in “travel mode” it automatically tracks a bag’s location every 20-30 minutes and builds a history of where a bag has been. TUMI said embedded firewalls, authorization protocols and encryption protect user information. The tracker can also be programmed to alert the user if the bag is moved away from its current location.
“We understand that one of the most stressful parts of any journey is the risk of losing your luggage, be that temporarily or permanently,” said TUMI’s Rob Cooper, general manager for North America. “The goal of the TUMI Global Locator is to make this a concern of the past.”
The tracker’s $200 price tag includes the first year of service on the AT&T network. Since $200 is more than some travelers spend for a suitcase, the tracker is likely to be marketed to affluent travelers and to corporations who want to ensure the security of company documents inside the suitcases of their employees.
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