This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel DEVICES in tourism and hospitality for June 2014.
Wednesday 25 June 2014:
Minube launches app for tablets
- The travel planning service has launched apps (available in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese) for iOS and Android tablets. Users will be able to plan their trip, and also book hotels. Minube’s mobile apps have been downloaded over two million times.
Pegasus Airlines reports 0.5 million app downloads
- Monitise, a mobile money company, launched a refreshed version (available in English and Turkish) of Pegasus Airline's app. Since the launch six months ago (for both iOS and Android), the apps has had over 283,000 downloads on iPhone and 175,000 on Android. The airline sees its mobile channel growing strong - with 5,000 new users registering every month, 1.7 million monthly views, 23,000 check-ins, and 18,000 tickets selling via the app per month.
Cleartrip launches iPad app
- The Indian OTA's new iPad app brings a native experience and all features of its iPhone app except train bookings. New features in the iPad app include a full screen map view.
Thursday 19 June 2014:HotelQuickly increases booking window
- The refreshed mobile app now allows users to book hotels a day in advance than the earlier way of allowing only same day bookings. The company has contracted over 2500 hotels in 100+ destinations in 12 countries. The new app also has a a new payment gateway, price filters, and third-party hotel reviews. The app has been downloaded over 300,000 times.
Wednesday 18 June 2014:WorldMate updates its Android app
- Says the company: The app uses its "contextual awareness" to be able to use the app's home screen to show relevant information to a user, such as by automatically adding your personal information to Web check-in forms.
Monday 16 June 2014:Travelport releases new version of Mobile Agent app
- With some 41,500 downloads under its belt, Travelport claims, Mobile Agent is being relaunched three years into its success as a app for agents to work on-the-go. The latest incarnation (it's third) will include a new design and interface, integration with the ViewTrip itinerary tool, a news feed of relevant industry articles and hosting of PNRs across multiple devices. The app, created by Developer Network member TTS, is available for Apple and Android devices.
Friday 13 June 2014:Egencia navigates to Android
- The Expedia-owned corporate travel agency has now made its TripNavigator product available for Android-hosted devices, alongside its existing version for Apple. with an iPad version to come shortly, TripNaviator allows business travellers to manage a trip on-the-road via their devices, giving them hotel shopping tools, itinerary guides and access to customer service.
Wednesday 11 June 2014:Momondo revamps Apple flight search app
- The new app from the European metasearch brand features a price graph, calendar view and "matrix view" (showing users out and inbound flights in one go), new filtering tools and general overhaul of its design. The company claims it is four times faster than its previous incarnation and also shows results before hitting the search button. A version for Android is expected shortly.
Southwest allows mobile boarding passes at all US airports
- The North American low cost carrier says it has now completed the roll-out of its mobile technology across the country following its introduction in late-2013. The majority of Southwest's 96 destinations it serves are in 41 of the country's states. The airline recently upgraded both its Apple and Android applications to bring passenger bookings and information to the front page of the platform.
MyDestination begins expanding app services
- Following its launch on the iPad, the local travel guide is now pushing its platform via a dedicated iPhone app for travellers. The app features tips and other content from over 300 local experts around the world, as well as include a trip planning service and interactive maps. A version for Android-hosted devices is expected to follow.
Friday 6 June 2014:AxisRooms launches mobile channel manager
- The hotel technology solution provider has launched its channel manager product HEX for Android platform. Currently, the app is in beta version, and its free to download from the Google Play store. The HEX app will "soon" be available for iPhone and Windows platforms.
Thursday 5 June 2014:Hipmunk revamps its hotel search
- Besides more in-app booking, the US metasearch site's web and mobile apps has redesigned its map functionality so that users can drop a pin to find lodging near a specific location. Also new: sentiment-based review data, so that users can see if breakfast is wonderful, etc., at a glance.
Wednesday 4 June 2014:Cleartrip launches in-app cancellations
- The OTA's mobile apps now enable users to cancel flights, hotels and trains. Users will be able to select the passenger(s) that they want to cancel in a ticket, or cancel the entire ticket, see the eligible refund amount, and then proceed for cancellation.
Foreign tourists to get free WiFi in Japan
- The Japanese government is planning to offer free WiFi across the nation to foreign visitors in 2016. Foreign visitors will be able to access WiFi by showing their passports at airports or tourist spots to get an access ID. The ID will also be downloadable via a smartphone app.
Qantas Airways refreshes its iPhone app
- The new app has a personalised interface that helps users with real-time information such as - recommending best method of check-in (mobile, online or airport), providing flight and boarding time alerts, navigating to airport and terminal, information about lounge access, Frequent Flyers points management, and viewing upcoming flights. An Android version will be released later in this year.
Monday 2 June 2014:HotelTonight opens Windows for latest app
- The same-day, mobile accommodation booking service is now available as an app for Windows 8-hosted mobile and tablet devices. The works in the same as its counterparts on Android and Apple systems and currently has deals for users in 300 destinations in North America and Europe.
Jet2 launches new mobile version of website
- The European airline says an increasing number of potential customers and pessengers are coming to its online presence so has simplified its design to accommodate users from all devices. Visitors will have access to special offers and promotions, a manage my booking section and a flight tracker tool.
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NB2: Travel devices image via Shutterstock.