This is a roundup of product news and announcements for travel DEVICES in tourism and hospitality for October 2014.
Friday 31 October 2014:
Ryanair updates mobile app
- Ryanair has updated its app with versions in French, Polish, Dutch and German. The low-cost carrier has further enhanced the service with the ability to add existing bookings to the 'MyRyanair' profile and the integration of IOS Passbook.
mTrip adds API to white label armoury
- mTrip has unveiled an update to its mobile applications for tour operator and travel agents. The Montreal-based company now enables operators to connect their in-house systems via API to mTrip so that customised apps can be delivered to travellers. The update also enables activities to be added to itineraries by MICE operators and the ability for travellers to download PDFs of their itineraries from the operator's website.
Tuesday 21 October 2014:HotelTonight integrates Apple Pay
- The hotel booking service for mobile devices will now allow users to secure a room using the new Apple-fronted service which launched officially this week. The single-touch payment is currently only available in the US on iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus handsets.
American Express Meetings & Events speaks
DoubleDutch- Event technology provider for mobile, DoubleDutch, will work with the AMEX division to handle its management of events on delegate devices. The agreement will see DoubleDutch technology run a number of in-app elements such as social interaction, giving event organisers the chance to measure attendee engagement and use of the app.
Tuesday 14 October 2014:Alaska Airlines to try allowing passengers to check in with a fingerprint
- Alaska is experimenting with allowing passengers to use their thumbprints as identification. If the tests work, the US airline would be the first to employ biometrics for boarding passes and inflight purchases.
EasyJet adds passport scanning to app
- The low cost carrier claims it is first in Europe to include a facility so passengers can scan their passport details in via their mobile camera phone and then use for checking in purposes. The tool is available on both the Apple and Android versions of the EasyJet app following its development by Jumio.
Thursday 9 October 2014:RouteRank nabs a patent for multi-modal technology
- In collaboration with the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Switzerland-based multi-modal startup routeRANK developed commuteRANK, whcih allows the company's point-to-point routing engine to analyze large numbers of commuter trips in an automated manner, by considering all means of transport such as rail, public transport, P+Rail and P+Ride, car pooling, private car, walking and biking and their many combinations.The company says, "Based on user selected parameters, this is then used for the objective attribution of limited parking spaces, for the identification of which commuter trips would actually benefit from a financial contribution to an e-bike or a public transport pass or for the simulation and analysis of strategic decisions."
Wednesday 1 October 2014:BookIt.com adds the booking of vacation packages to its app
- The online travel site focusing on resort destinations update its Apple iOS Hotels, Flights & Vacations app. Besides enabling users to book hotels and flights, the app is the only one available that allows users to book vacation packages right from their smartphone or tablet.
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NB2: Travel devices image via Shutterstock.