Smartphones often don't live up to their names for travelers spending a significant time in foreign countries - SIM chips are hard to change, roaming charges are expensive, and data fees are even more so.
A new Kickstarter has emerged this weekend that attempts to solve this traveler's dilemma: the SIMPLcase.
Touted as a "minimalist iPhone case for travelers," the case is indeed minimalist - for a traveling techno geek!
Wrapped in the low-profile .5mm case is the coup de grace: a multiple slot SIM storage space with an easy-to-use eject tool to insert the appropriate country's SIM card.
The main advantage here is the savings enjoyed by using a local-country SIM card. No more roaming charges and no more data absurdities - it's all local at the local rate.
In addition, the case allows storage for multiple SIM cards, preventing randomly losing one of these tiny-but-yet-vital communication facilitators. After all, SIM cards are smaller than the size of a fingerprint, which makes them easy to lose - and annoying to replace.
A clever slot in the back of the case provides the added functionality of a low-profile stand for hands-free viewing. Rather than using a complex hinge, the case employs a credit card or membership card as the stand leg. Drop it in place, and the phone now props up on its own.
Other fun features include a bit of "travel wisdom in every case:"
For the love of travel, we thought it would be fun to add a travel related quote or fact inside each SIMPLcase. We'd love our Backers to message us or comment on our Kickstarter page as to their favorite saying. If we like it too, we might use it in production. So, send us your words, limited to around 140 characters (yep, just like a Tweet). Keep it clean, and reference the source if you can.
The Tnooz TCritics are already chomping at the bit to get their nomadic hands on a test copy for review - we'll keep you posted!