Matthew Olivolo March 12th, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., – Sumo, the leading consumer brand from Mobile Edge announces the launch of their Lifestyle Carrying Cases into the Home and Housewares market. Sumo’s fashion forward duffels and totes are a natural for the home and housewares channels. Sumo will be featuring their products in the Clean & Contain area (Booth N7028) March 14th through 16th at the International Home & Housewares Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. The International Home & Housewares Show is the premier home products specialty show and attracts thousands of international buyers from the top retailers.

“The International Home & Housewares Show gives us exposure to all the premier international home retailers at one event,” said Jim Hart, Sumo’s co-founder. “Our distinctive Sumo logo is always well received, and fits perfectly into this channel. We are confident the attending retailers will love our products, and our brand, which will help us grow in this channel for years to come.”

Sumo has applied the same fresh approach it has taken in its other product categories and is bringing it to the home market. Sumo lifestyle cases fill a void in this category that today’s women are looking for. Their duffels and totes are stylish, but constructed of premium & durable water-resistant ballistic nylon to take whatever the road dishes out.

“The Sumo Lifestyle Cases expands this category and offer women more choices,” said G. David Cartwright, President and CEO of Mobile Edge. “We’ve combined functional designs with quality materials, in sizes and colors that compliment today’s active women’s lifestyle.”

The Sumo brand is well known for our Tough Love approach to design; offering innovative color options in alternative materials. Our San Francisco roots keep us on the leading edge of the latest consumer product trends. Our brand is quirky, funny, and resonates emotion with our customers. Our products are tough, unique, and fresh.

About Mobile Edge & Sumo
Mobile Edge is the industry leader in innovative and stylish laptop computer carrying cases and travel accessories. The company is committed to the highest quality standards in every case that it produces, from women’s briefcases, portfolios and totes, to men’s messenger bags, backpacks, Netbook cases and their new ScanFast? Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Collection. Recently acquired Sumo is a lifestyle brand with San Francisco roots focused on fashion forward products that break the mold and offer alternatives to the boring and mundane. Both Mobile Edge and Sumo offer the strongest product warranty in the industry. Available online at mobileedge.com and sumolifestyle.com

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Matthew Olivolo March 8th, 2010

Mobile Edge has a vast Collection of Women’s Stylish Laptops Bags, including their new Eco-Friendly Komen Tote made of all natural cotton canvas. Recently, ABC News reporter Andrea Smith reviewed this stylish Laptop Tote.

She mentioned Mobile Edge donates 10 percent of the retail sales price of every Komen Carrying Case sold back to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Click on the video to see the review!

Mobile Edge Komen Eco-Friendly Tote from Mobile Edge on Vimeo.

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Matthew Olivolo March 8th, 2010

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., – March 8, 2010 – Sumo, the leading consumer brand from Mobile Edge announces the launch of their Folding Furniture Cubes into the Home and Housewares market. Sumo is leveraging its success in the college dorm and juvenile markets with a logical extension into the home and housewares channels. Sumo will be featuring our products in the Clean & Contain area (Booth N7028) March 14th through 16th at the International Home & Housewares Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. The International Home & Housewares Show is the premier home products specialty show and attracts thousands of international buyers from the top retailers.

“The International Home & Housewares Show gives us exposure to all the premier international home retailers at one event,” said Jim Hart, Sumo’s co-founder. “Our distinctive Sumo logo is always well received, and fits perfectly into this channel. We are confident the attending retailers will love our products, and our brand, which will help us grow in this channel for years to come.”

Sumo has applied the same fresh approach it has taken in its lifestyle carrying cases to the home market. Sumo has built a quality folding storage solution that is made of furniture quality fiberboard covered in a highly durable fabric, which offers over 2.8 cubic feet of storage space in a fun, colorful cube that will enhance any décor.

The Sumo Cubes offer a unique alternative to home storage,” said G. David Cartwright, President and CEO of Mobile Edge. “We’ve taken a simple design and made it colorful and fun, offering a furniture quality solution that works in any dorm room, kids room or even your living room.”

The Sumo brand is well known for our Tough Love approach to design; offering innovative color options in alternative materials. Our San Francisco roots keep us on the leading edge of the latest consumer product trends. Our brand is quirky, funny, and resonates emotion with our customers. Our products are tough, unique, and fresh.

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Matthew Olivolo February 22nd, 2010

Mobile Edge laptop cases are sold all over the country in a variety of retail stores, including University Computer Stores. Recently, Penn State University awarded Mobile Edge as their coveted “Vendor of the Month,” as the Penn State Computer Store is celebrating 20 years in business.

Channel Sales Manager, Herb North visited the Penn State Campus to show off just why Mobile Edge was given the prestigious award. He demonstrated what products are sold on campus highlighting all of the key attributes of each case. In between classes, students would stop by the Mobile Edge display to check out the cool products.

“The Penn State Computer Store has a very successful retail store and we here at Mobile Edge are proud to have a retail partner like Penn State to work with,” explained Herb North. “Paige Fyock, Campus Store Buyer is the one responsible for selecting the right products to suit her student’s needs, and has done an outstanding job doing so.”

Check out what Mobile Edge products are sold on the Penn State Computer Store website by clicking here.

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Matthew Olivolo February 18th, 2010

Heavy scrutiny of passengers makes for longer security checks

By Michelle Higgins – New York Times

Since the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) began tightening security in response to the Christmas Day bombing plot on a flight to Detroit, travelers have faced increasingly rigorous screenings at airports. They’ve been forced to cope with extra bag checks, closer scrutiny of their identification, and full body pat-downs for children as well as adults.

The new measures come on top of the already arduous process familiar to any regular traveler: the ritual offering up of shoes, jackets, belts, watches, laptops, cell phones and keys. But it’s the inconsistencies in the security measures — from country to country, airline to airline and airport to airport — that have left many passengers exasperated and confused. Some say they have encountered the usual routine, while others tell of undergoing multiple screenings at various stages of the itinerary, mostly on international flights bound for the United States.

More changes are expected to come to airports around the world as governments explore new security technology, including the much debated full-body scanners, which will soon be used in more American airports. Passengers traveling within the United States may notice an increase in random screenings, behavior detection officers who look for signs that passengers may be hiding something, and a wider use of tools like explosives trace detection devices, not just at the checkpoint but throughout the airport.

For passengers, all of this means coping with an onerous, shifting security routine fraught with privacy concerns. But travelers are a resilient bunch and many are already adapting to the new realities. Here are a number of things you can do to navigate the new measures.

Pack carefully
Innocent items can appear to be potential threats on an X-ray image, simply by the way they’re packed. Tying up loose headphones and cell phone cords so your luggage doesn’t look like an ominous jumble of wires can help expedite screening, for instance.

Use a special laptop bag
These “checkpoint friendly” bags provide a clear and unobstructed X-ray image of the laptop, allowing travelers to keep the computers in their cases at airport security checkpoints. This eliminates the hassle of having to unpack the laptop, place it in a bin and repack it at the end of the conveyor belt.

Mobile Edge offers a huge collection of TSA compliant Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags they call their ScanFast Collection. They offer the largest selection of security approved laptop cases on the market for both men and women travelers.

Follow the rules

It may sound simple, but anyone who has been to an airport recently knows how frequently this point is overlooked. Shoes must be placed on the X-ray belt, as opposed to in a bin, to help security officers get a good look at them. Liquids, aerosols or gels must be packed in containers no larger than 3.4 ounces in one clear, quart-sized zip-top bag. A list of prohibited items is at www.tsa.gov/travelers.

To read the full story click here.

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Matthew Olivolo February 8th, 2010

As an advertising junkie, I honestly enjoy watching the Super Bowl Commercials over the actual game (unless the Chargers are playing). This year’s advertising ensemble was as good as year’s past but not the most memorable. The Doritos commercials were pretty funny, and the Betty White (Snicker’s) Ad was hilarious.

However, my favorite ad was from Audi. The Green Police Ad was brilliant. It was funny, totally over the top, however still demonstrated how Clean Diesel is good for the environment.

Many corporations are going green these days, and Mobile Edge is leading the way in the Laptop Bag category by introducing their new Sorona™ Material from Dupont® which is derived from corn. Look for new products to arrive this Spring using this Eco-Friendly material.

In the meantime, here is the Audi Green Police Ad from the Super Bowl. Enjoy!

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Matthew Olivolo January 26th, 2010

Ten tips to make your trip through the airport security checkpoint easier on everyone

By Scott Carmichael, Gadling Travel Editor

Flying can be a stressful way to spend your day, especially if you only fly once or twice a year. Reports of terror attempts and airport evacuations don’t make things any better. Thankfully, if you follow some simple tips, your trip through the checkpoint can be really simple, allowing you more time to enjoy the dreadful airport food, or to waste your money at the airport duty free shop.

We’ve gathered ten tips that can make your checkpoint experience as stress-free as possible. Not just for you, but for the hundreds of others trying to make it to the other side of the checkpoint at the same time.

Are you an “amateur” traveler? Were you allowed to carry box cutters and knives the last time you took a flight? Then chances are you are not up to date on the latest airport security rules. It is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, a prepared traveler is a rare breed, so consider yourself lucky that you are showing an interest in it.

The best starting point (other than this article) is of course the TSA web site. Their “what to know before you go” has the nitty-gritty on airport security, prohibited items and of course their own tips on getting through security as efficiently as possible.

Invest in a Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag

If you regularly pass through the checkpoint with a laptop, do yourself a favor and invest in a checkpoint friendly laptop bag. These bags are specially designed to fold open, allowing the x-ray machine a clear unobstructed view of your computer. They cost about 25% more than a normal laptop bag.

The advantage of a TSA friendly laptop bag is obvious – you don’t need to take your laptop out of its bag, greatly reducing the risk of damage. It also shaves about 30 seconds off your trip through the checkpoint. A good place to find a large assortment of checkpoint friendly bags is Mobile Edge. This company makes stylish bags for men and women, with bags starting at just $49.95.

Frisk *yourself*
Before you even think about stepping into the security line, frisk yourself. Really – run your hands up and down all your pockets, front and back. Remove anything metallic, and you’ll reduce the risk of missing that loose change or pocket knife. Don’t just assume the metal detector will find it for you.

Find the right line

Many airports have introduced separate TSA lanes for the different kind of traveler. The black or diamond lane is for the experienced traveler. These lanes won’t have as many staff members assisting you. The casual traveler lane may have someone helping point out the bins, and the family/medical liquid lane is where you’ll get the most help. Especially if you are traveling with kids, you’ll want to pick the green lane. Sadly, not all airports have adopted this system.

The lanes are not a contest – don’t worry if you need to go to the casual traveler lane, because picking the right lane will make life easier on you, and your fellow passengers.

To read the full article click here.

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Matthew Olivolo January 25th, 2010

The ever so popular ScanFast Element Briefcase was featured in a travel article posted in the February 15th, 2010 of Canadian Business, a well known business periodical in Canada. The stylish look of the Checkpoint Friendly ScanFast Briefcase makes this one of the hottest TSA compliant laptop bag on the market designed specifically for women. Mobile Edge leads the category in offering the most styles of TSA compliant laptop bags designed exclusively for women.

Now Mobile Edge products are offered in Canada, and Canadians are catching on to the ScanFast Collection of Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags. These specially designed laptop bags are made to move travelers through airport security checkpoints without having to remove their laptops from their cases.

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Matthew Olivolo January 18th, 2010

NBC has had a tough time recently in their ratings, specifically with their Late Show talent Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. However, their hip new Spy Show called Chuck has helped NBC take some of the ratings they were missing out on back. In fact, NBC brought back Chuck earlier than originally planned due to its popularity.

If you have ever watched the show, you know it’s light hearted with a fun and cool element mixed in. Make sure you watch out for what carrying case Chuck uses. He likes the new Mobile Edge ScanFast Messenger Bag and will use it on several upcoming episodes. His co-star also uses the Mobile Edge ScanFast Element Briefcase in Pink. She even uses our new Sumo Professional Briefcase in a few shots.

Make sure you watch the new series tonight on NBC. Click here for more information about the show.

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Matthew Olivolo January 12th, 2010

By Helena Stone, Editor in Chief, Chip Chick

CES may be over but the sting in my wallet still lingers and not from the casino tables, but from Delta airlines! As we all know traveling is getting more and more expensive as well as time consuming. Delta has announced that they are raising their pricing for checking bags in to $23 for the first checked bag and $32 for the second checked bag.

However, you don’t have to be a sucker and these three bags will not only fit into the overhead compartment to avoid luggage fees, they’re also TSA approved and they are pretty stylish too. Now I only wish that the TSA knew themselves what bags they really approved of.

Mobile Edge TSA ScanFast Onyx Checkpoint Friendly Backpack – Just because we are done with school that doesn’t mean you can’t still backpack it and look professional. Mobile Edge has a wide range of TSA friendly bags meant to get you in and out security fast and be big enough to cram all your junk into it.

Click here to read the full article.

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