Technology phoning in
Published: February 1, 2008
People already use smartphones to listen to music, watch videos, surf the Web, send e-mails and track appointments; now they can use them to make and manage travel itineraries.
Travelers using a phone to surf the Omni Hotels Web site, will be routed to a special mobile phone-enabled site where they can book rooms, check in upon arrival, view special hotel offers, and access maps and directions. Future mobile phone-activated offerings at Omni properties will include valet service, baggage retrieval, housekeeping and room service on demand.
Travelocity has launched a new mobile travel application for Apple devices. iPhone and iPod Touch owners now can manage Travelocity itineraries, get up-to-the-minute flight information on flight status, TSA security point wait times, local weather, maps, traffic and airport driving directions from the devices’ Safari Web browser.
In the next few months, look for increased mobile travel offerings for smartphone users, including instant city guides and handheld concierge services. Beta versions are most likely to launch first for iPhone users.
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