The suitcase contains a Bluetooth beacon which uses Eddystone Ephemeral Identifiers (EIDs), an open privacy/security protocol by Google. Designed and manufactured by Accent Systems, the beacon enables the Track&Go suitcase. It has to be registered by the owner through the Travlr by Samsonite app, which is available free of charge. The app was launched in September 2015 to offer flight tracking, tips and reminders when travelling.
The new Track&Go feature will soon be built into the existing app, allowing users to easily check the location of the suitcase within a distance of 70m, and also be notified if it is being moved closer or further away from the user. Should the suitcase go missing, the owner can easily flag it as lost in the app. Once flagged as 'lost', the app leverages its user base to help the suitcase's owner find it. Should anyone else, using the app, pass within 70 m of a lost suitcase, an EID-based signal is picked up and triggers a notification with location and time details of the suitcase to be sent out to the owner.
According to Accent's web page, its Bluetooth low energy beacons can last up to about 100 months depending on the model and what it is used for.
"We're excited to work with Google on this project to make sure that our beacons support Eddystone EIDs. Missing or permanently lost luggage is the nightmare of every traveller. As the world's largest luggage manufacturer, we wanted to find a way to make this issue a thing of the past," says Ramesh Tainwala, CEO of Samsonite. "As Samsonite is known for its innovative and reliable luggage and bags, we also wanted to work with an equally as innovative and reliable technology partner.By leveraging Google's robust, secure and cross-platform approach, we feel confident that our customers will welcome this new solution."
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Samsonite aims to launch the first suitcases featuring the Track&Go solution in the European market at the end of 2016, followed by other international markets.
