I first came across SmrtCase, a mobile phone accessory manufacturer based in New Brunswick, NJ, back in April whilst strolling the back alleys at CTIA WIRELESS 2010. The interesting design of the polymer Glide case, which incorporates a card slot on its back (more on this below) is what first caught my eye. But after perusing through the rest of the tiny booth, the item I really fell in love with was the SmrtWallet, a faux leather sleeve that doubles as a wallet. So you can imagine my excitement when the latter arrived on my desk.

The Feature That Sets it Apart

Both the SmrtWallet and the Glide employ a patent-pending design that includes a small slit on the back for inserting a business card, hotel key, credit card, or other thin card (a plastic piece included with the Glide adheres to the phone's back to ensure it doesn't get scratched when you slide cards in or out.) Added to this is a pill-shaped window in the centre of that back card slot (it's vertical on the SmrtWallet, horizontal on the Glide) that allows you to use your thumb to push the inserted card out of the slot. With the SmrtWallet, if you pop in a standard business card, you can also position it to show your name in the window (assuming your name is in the middle of the card.) If you find this "cheesy," simply position the card upside down, or use that slot for items like credit cards, hotel room keys, or even folded up money.

While the Glide wraps around the back and perimeter of the compatible device, the SmrtWallet is a full-cover sleeve that adds three vertical card slots on the front that make it look just like a men's wallet. But even as a woman, I'm more than happy to house my iPhone in the case; especially with female-friendly finishes like pomegranate and caramel along with the standard black.) Versions of the SmrtWallet are available fitted for the iPhone 3G S (the case also fits the new iPhone 4) and BlackBerry Bold 9700 and 9650, Storm (9530 and Storm 2 (9550), and all BlackBerry Curves.

A vertical slot on the back of the Smrt Case SmrtWallet can hold a few business cards, credit card, hotel key, or other flat, card-shaped items. Run your thumb along the pill-shaped opening to quickly slide the item out.

The Look

The SmrtWallet has a soft, micro-fibre lining inside that the company says not only protects, but also cleans the phone. I'm not quite sure I'd agree with the latter, but the soft material certainly ensures that the phone doesn't get scratched when you're pulling it out, and that's the most important part. I will admit to being disappointed that the case is not made of real leather; after all, you can get comparably-styled cases (minus the patent-pending card slot design, of course) for similar pricing (US$30) that are made of real leather.

Much like other full-cover sleeves, there are two openings on either side at the top and bottom for gripping the phone and pulling it out when you're ready to use it. There's no Velcro tab or anything to stop the phone from sliding out from the top, but it fits so snugly that you need not worry about that. In fact, the fit is so snug (I tried the iPhone 3G S/4 case) that it's not as easy to slide the phone in and out as I'd like. The plus is, of course, that it's unlikely that the phone would slide or pop out of the case without a little bit of force.

The three front vertical card slots were also a tighter fit than I'd like. But, as with the main compartment for the phone, you won't worry about your credit card or driver's license easily falling out. Plus, as with any wallet, the slots are liable to loosen up over time through natural wear and tear.

Three vertical card slots can hold necessary items like credit cards and cash, thus essentially doubling as a wallet.

Is It For You?

For men, it's easy to see how the SmrtWallet can come in handy. Instead of wearing a belt clip which, let's face it, isn't the most attractive option, slot your cell phone into the SmrtWallet, then into a shirt or pants pocket, and throw some cash and necessary cards into it. For women, aside from ensuring the phone's screen is protected from scratches and bumps while tucked away in your purse, this case also makes for a more practical option with small clutches and purses. Any woman with a decent-sized wallet knows that it's virtually impossible to bring along everything in a tiny designer purse, or especially a clutch. Slot your phone into this case, and pop your cash, credit cards, and license into the three slots instead of throwing them loosely into the purse where they can easily fall out or be swiped.

Which brings me to a potential drawback. Considering the frequency with which people tend to lose their mobile phones, adding credit cards, driver's licenses, hotel room keys, and cash to that equation leaves you at risk for losing much more than just a virtual phonebook and an easily replaceable piece of hardware if you forget it in a restaurant. However, perhaps grouping your mobile phone with all of these essential items will make one more conscious of keeping the device as safe and secure as you would your wallet.

Because it snugly surrounds the smartphone (an iPhone 3G S in this photo), you'll have to remove the case every time you want to look at the phone.

I'll admit that I'm constantly checking my phone, which makes me the last person who'd be a candidate for a sleeve like that that requires you remove the phone entirely in order to view the screen. I tried placing my iPhone into the Glide case first, then into the SmrtWallet. It fits, but too snugly to easily pop the phone in and out of the case. If you're like me, despite how "cool" the SmrtWallet is, you'll just find it frustrating and you're better off opting for a skin that covers only the perimeter of the phone, or a folio-styled case with a flap that opens to afford instant access to the phone's touch-screen on-the-fly.

But consider that mobile initiatives like banking apps from the likes of CIBC and TD, and payment initiatives like Zoompass and NFC-equipped mobile phones and pay terminals, are becoming a reality. Which means combining your mobile phone with your actual wallet is a clever idea, and an ideal step towards truly creating the digital wallet. Who knows: one day, we might not even need those nifty slots at all.

The Glide, another product from Smrt Case, snaps around the back of the device, and incorporates the same patent-pending card slot with the pill-shaped opening (horizontally instead of vertically like the SmrtWallet.) A small plastic piece adheres to the back of the phone to ensure that cards don't scratch it.

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