This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel DEVICES in tourism and hospitality for March 2014.
Thursday 27 March 2014:
Orbitz overhauls Business mobile app
- The revamped Orbitz for Business mobile service features a number of new tools such as booking services for flights, hotels and car rentals, including same-day reservations. Loyalty scheme hosted customers are also given access to special rates and traveller extras. MyTrips will allow users to store trip information and reservations, as well as make changes to bookings and other details.
B Hotels and Resorts creates Monscierge mobile app
- The hotel chain's first foray into mobile concierge services is customised for each of its properties and allows guests to access weather forecasts, flight updates and local tips, on both Android-hosted and iPhone devices. The Monscierge system, developed by a software company of the same name, will also be available as a kiosk-style unit in lobby areas of hotels.
Wednesday 26 March 2014:Delta Air to provide Wifi access on international flights
- Delta Airlines will launch Wifi service on its international flights 283 and 295 on Boeing 747-400 aircraft departing Los Angeles International Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to Narita International Airport in Tokyo. Laptop users can access the service at $14 per hour and mobile users can access at $8 per hour. Users can also stay connected throughout the flight for $24.95 for laptop access and $14.95 for mobile access. All of Delta's 747-400 aircraft will have Wifi installed by mid-2014.
Tuesday 25 March 2014:Wego adds Arabic version to its iOS app
- The metasearch service's iOS app has been updated to support Arabic language. Wego has built partnerships with local travel brands such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, GulfAir, Musafir, ArabRooms and more.
Monday 24 March 2014:Tripomatic relaunches Android application
- The trip planning service is celebrating one million downloads of its existing applications ny reworking its Android platform. The new version allows users to create a personalised travel guide for a device using maps and by discovering things-to-do and attractions. Hotel booking is also available on the application as well as synchronisation between the web and mobile version for trips which have been created and saved.
Monday 17 March 2014:EasyTaxi drops booking fee in Singapore
- The taxi hailing service that has its presence in the South East Asia market has dropped the booking fee for customers in Singapore, also the country's drivers need not pay any commission to EasyTaxi. Its unclear how EasyTaxi will generate revenue from Singapore market by offering the services fee of cost.
Addison Lee refreshes its
iPhone app- The UK-based minicab company has redesigned its mobile app with features these features - ability to personalise user profile's with favourite addresses, ability to select the category of vehicle, live tracking of the 3,500 vehicle fleet, dynamic pick-up time updates in real-time, and a transparent fare system.
Friday 14 March 2014:Kerala Tourism's mobile app contest
- The tourism board has launched a contest that asks people across the world to send an idea/concept (not exceeding a page) for its mobile app. The only rule is that the idea should promote Kerala. Winners will get cash prizes of about $3,500 (Rs 2 lakh), three laptops and two mobile phones.
Sunday 9 March 2014:Jet Airways bookings in Google Now
- Bookings made via Jet Airways website or its mobile app (with opt-in to sync Gmaill address with booking) will be displayed in Google Now cards. This feature is available in the Google Search app for iOS platform and it is built into Android 4.1+ devices (in Google Search app).
Lufthansa to stream content to passengers devices
- The airline has announced plans to wirelessly stream content (movies, TV programs, music, games) to passengers' smartphones or tablets devices starting from the summer. It would be available on routes such as Europe to Russia, Middle East or North Africa, starting with 20 Airbus A321 aircraft, which carry about 220 people.
Friday 7 March 2014:Statesman Travel Group to deliver integrated itinerary solution
- Statesman Travel, a travel management company, has partnered with Mantic Point to launch an integrated itinerary management solution for travellers. The new solution will deliver a fully-branded, consistent and contextual experience across mobile, email, online and social media. Also, the solution can track Statesman Travel’s clients travelling employees and send/receive direct messages between travel managers, bookers and travellers.
Thursday 6 March 2014:Uber rolls out Surge Drop
- Uber's new iOS-only (for now) feature will allow users to get push notification from the app if surge pricing drops within 30 minutes. Users can opt-in or opt-out of this push notification.
Tuesday 4 March 2014:Eat Your World optimises for mobile devices
- The foodie-focused destination website has put all its existing content and functions into a mobile-based service, allowing users to get a better experience when on-the-go. Tools such as its mapping system have been given GPS-led tools so users can find nearby places to eat, upload review pictures instantly from a devices and browse listings from 130 destinations around the world.
Tencent Maps in
Didi Dache and
Dianping- China-based Taxi hailing company Didi Dache and group buying service Dianping will start using Tencent Maps in their mobile apps. Currently, about 90% of Didi Dache's taxi driver-facing mobile app use Tencent Maps, and all consumer mobile app use Baidu Maps. Tencent's WeChat will integrate Dianping's store information into its street view feature. Recently, Tencent acquired 20% stake in Dianping, and it also invested $30 million in Didi Dache.
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via email.
NB2: Travel devices image via Shutterstock.