The IoT sensor featured in the backpack is compatible with SK Telecom’s home IoT service, Smart Home, and communicates with a Home Bridge (hub) via ZigBee wireless communication protocols. (image: 11ST)
SEOUL, Jan. 31 (Korea Bizwire) – The Musterbag Smart Edition is a backpack that uses IoT sensors so parents can check if their children arrive safely at school, and then back home in the afternoon. The bag was first introduced in early December in a joint venture between telecommunications company SK Telecom and children’s bag maker Musterbag.
Although the bag was initially offered as a limited-edition item with only 100 manufactured for sale, its unprecedented popularity urged the two companies to officially launch the bag in mid-December.
The IoT sensor featured in the backpack is compatible with SK Telecom’s home IoT service, Smart Home, and communicates with a Home Bridge (hub) via ZigBee wireless communication protocols.
(image: 11ST)
The sensor also works with SK’s ZigBee modules installed at some 3,000 schools across the country – which were initially established to work with SK’s other IoT alert devices for children – but with a monthly fee of 5,500 won ($4.7). The backpack sells for 128,000 won.
According to SK, the number of bags sold per day almost doubled to 90 from mid to late January, compared to 50 in the first two weeks of the month.
“Such products are popular especially amid Korea’s increasing number of working couples, and frequent news of children exposed to danger during their commute,” an official said. “We’ll consider rolling out similar products in the future.”
By Joseph Shin (jss539@koreabizwire.com)
