02-13-2003, 12:06 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Bluetooth-enabled Luggage?
Now here's one from left field. 8O
"Maybe it's that some business travelers want to emulate James Bond, or Maxwell Smart.
Whatever the reason, wireless technology has crept into luggage via a Bluetooth-enabled attache case from Samsonite."
The article is short on details; a bit more information is available on Samsonite's Hardlite website as well as this article.
Apart from what the above links suggest, would you want wireless-enabled luggage, and if so, what would you like it to do for you? And what I'd really like to know is if Samsonite can see fit to include Bluetooth on a piece of luggage, why are cell phone manufacturers finding it so difficult to put it on cell phones? :x
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02-13-2003, 12:40 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 254
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During flight
During flight over loudspeaker installation :
"...and we kindly ask all passengers to swich off all electronic equipment during takoff and landing. Electronic devices with radiotransmiters should be kept off during the whole flight"
Passenger seat:
"DAMN i forgot to swich off my suitcase (wich is in the cargo compartment)"
Newspaper heading next day
"Boeing 747 landed in potato field, miraculously no passanger injuries. Suitcase suspected to interfere with inflight system" 
__________________
In times of change, its the learners who will inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to handle a world that no longer exist.
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02-13-2003, 12:52 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 75
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I can think of a bunch of applications for the bluetooth case.
a) As suggested: Tracking, is my case on this flight "Hey, I'm here I should be there !"
b) Theft prevention. Need to be in range of the master key to open.
c) Tampering alert / Separation Identification
Last Point: I think pretty soon we won't have to worry about switching off devices in flight. Bottom line, if you could bring down a plane with these things we wouldn't be allowed to have them on the plane at all. Especially now. I'd be more worried about the ground based EMP generator aimed at fly by wire aircraft.
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02-13-2003, 01:04 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 302
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AAAAARGHH!
So now we have to buy batteries for our suitcases. :roll:
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02-13-2003, 01:43 AM
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Oracle
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 841
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"The product... will be available"...
Anyway, the product has to have some functionality. The BT is there, it probably uses the Serial profile, but needs application.
Someone will have to write an app to have a computer/PPC/Palm/Zaurus talking a "language".
An example of this is FlOAT's Mobile Agent. It connect to the mobile using Serial, and you can control it, retrieve SMS, receive notification of incoming calls. Or XTNDConnect:it uses the same Serial to sync OL and mobile phonebook.
So, having Bluetooth will not solve the problem. It'll just make the case able to communicate. But we'll need a standard protocol and an application available for different platforms.
Perhaps Samsonyte will supply the software?
"You can have your green Samsonyte case with software for PPC, Windows or Palm. I'm sorry but the blue one with software for Zaurus is no longer available. Oh, yes, you can log into our website and download the new software for your case. Thank you!"
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02-13-2003, 01:57 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,468
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Janak,
I was in a mobile phone shop yesterday - the majority of phones on sale - from Nokia, Ericsson, Siemens, Motorola etc. had BT! In fact it is only a minority of new ones, and a few old models that didn't have it! Several BT enabled phones (including the great T68i) were free on contract.
Why so few are available in the US - well, that all has to do with Qualcom and a spat they had with Ericsson, with regard to CDMA phones. For GPRS - heaven only knows. Common sense and intelligence seem to play little part in US mobile networks strategies...
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02-13-2003, 01:59 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,185
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Could be a cool way for hotels/airlines to track your preferences and traveler interests. Could be used to customize your travel experience.
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02-13-2003, 02:00 AM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Duncan
Why so few are available in the US - well, that all has to do with Qualcom and a spat they had with Ericsson, with regard to CDMA phones. For GPRS - heaven only knows. Common sense and intelligence seem to play little part in US mobile networks strategies...
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I do agree with you about the common-sense bit, but not about Qualcomm - they've had Bluetooth capabilities in their CDMA chips for years. As for the Ericsson lawsuits, let's not go there.
BTW, most Motorola phones do not have Bluetooth. Either here or internationally. The Timeport 270c was the only one so far; the P280i is supposed to support it, but I haven't seen it hit the market anywhere. The V600 has finally been announced with support for BT. About 50-60% of new Nokia phones don't, either.
I'd agree there's more progress internationally, but still, I'd like to see it in 100% of devices. That's what will enable this technology to take off.
--janak
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02-13-2003, 04:15 AM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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Still Sounds Pretty Ridiculous
Quote:
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Originally Posted by garrans
I can think of a bunch of applications for the bluetooth case.
a) As suggested: Tracking, is my case on this flight "Hey, I'm here I should be there !"
b) Theft prevention. Need to be in range of the master key to open.
c) Tampering alert / Separation Identification
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Point A won't be very useful with a 30-foot range. I wonder if even a Class A (Class 1?) Bluetooth device's 300-foot range would be sufficient.
Point B won't fly (so to speak) if you're going to check the bag now that you're not supposed to lock checked baggage. Also, if somebody steals your bag, I doubt the lock would prevent them from opening the case.
For Point C, I'm not sure what "separation identification" refers to. A tampering alert might be OK, but see Point B; if the bag is stolen, it won't do much good.
One thing it might do is help you locate your bag more easily if you check it. If you can connect and see your identification, you'll know you're within 30 feet of your bag.
Steve
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02-13-2003, 04:18 AM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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Tracking Preferences
Quote:
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Originally Posted by bdegroodt
Could be a cool way for hotels/airlines to track your preferences and traveler interests. Could be used to customize your travel experience.
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How would this work? I'm guessing that most people who get this because it has Bluetooth would also have a Bluetooth PDA or phone. In that case (no pun intended), why not use the PDA or phone to transmit the preferences? You'll likely have those with you more than a briefcase.
Steve
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