Convergence in Mobile Devices Drives Travel Technology Adoption and Innovation

Convergence in Mobile Devices Drives Travel Technology Adoption and Innovation Convergence in Mobile Devices Drives Travel Technology Adoption and Innovation Consumer Electronics evolve to meet the portability and real-time information for travelers As consumer behavior has evolved into a lifestyle fuiture, electronics face has changed. Adapting to a wireless world has led the industry with innovations that meet the requirements of portable and compact, but also the convergence of various technologies to meet the needs on-the-go applications. Access to mobile and real-time information and portability has had an impact on the evolution of design and degree of product appropriateness, benefiting today's traveler of the world of business and leisure. Norman L. Rose, president of Travel Tech Consulting and analyst for PhoCusWright, a travel research firm explains, "The new world of always connected mobile traveler is arriving faster than the industry can adapt. New applications like location-based services (LBS) will become a key differentiator for the frequent traveler and should be considered for improvement initiatives, service existing customers. We are abandoning the view of mobile technology for the next cool thing to understand that wireless communication is an essential part of the new travel process. " Real-Time Information and Communication: Global Positioning Systems (GPS) has become a key demand by travelers that the recent innovations has become a reality. Jim Schwabe, general manager of accessories for Palm (NASDAQ: PALM) explains: "One of the most important changes that have occurred over the past two years is the ability to implement formally complex solutions like GPS on a handheld or smartphone. We offer a GPS kit for Treo smartphones that gives you all the maps of the United States and Canada, and transforms your mobile phone or PDA into a complete navigation solution. What is driving the success is at this point has reached critical mass in an easier solution. The most important is the ease of use for the person who needs to go from one place to another. "Taking the need for real-time information further, Palm also offers a traffic Treo? smartphone that uses road sensors and show that the speed of moving traffic on major roads. "You can bookmark regular intersections, that tell you how fast traffic is flowing and also to all reports of accidents, collisions and construction along the routes described Schwabe. Focusing on improving the ease of use and reliability of GPS Garmin Inteational (NASDAQ: GRMN) n? There products, offering users a new GPS receiver for high sensitivity that is able to capture a signal in areas which are in May of obstacles like trees or tall buildings cover with an assortment of additional features Jouey. N? We also joined the voice tu by tu prompted an agreement with the GPS real-time traffic interface, language translator, travel books, MP3 player, audio book player, picture viewer and a citizen GEO-coded coupon book . Driving the popularity of this device is not only functional, but also desirable size of the product as Jessica Myers, Senior Media Relations for Garmin says, "The n? There size is one of the many reasons consumers find attractive. E 'comparable to a game of cards - very compact and easy to carry. "AskMeNow (OTCBB: OWHC) aims to meet the needs of the traveler on the road by allowing subscribers information call or text message any question from a mobile phone or handheld device to receive the information requested in moments. Basic questions are answered free, while free AskMeAnything questions answered automatically to a small sum of 49 cents, which is charged to their monthly cellular bill. Darryl Cohen, CEO of AskMeNow describes, "I believe that our service is extremely important for the traveler that we are unique in our ability to offer users the AskMeAnything feature, which opens things to a wide range of issues to offer our customers access to more information to assist in their own way. You can feel a comfort level with us, when we give you the information sources they use and the information you are looking for distinctive places like gas at low cost, or garage, even if affordable family restaurant in May, we are able to obtain this information to you. It goes beyond the standard options for general information, it allows travelers to ask unique and specific issues relating to their personal travel needs. "Real-time video communication has grown in popularity through companies such as Logitech Inteational (NASDAQ: Logi), through innovative and portable web cam products. The Company's new Quickcam? Pro for Notebooks, which has a sensor 1.3 mega pixels, technology and software to help provide higher quality images in low light conditions, such as hotel rooms. The camera has a microphone with echo cancellation. The growth of video communication is attributed in large part to the popularity and improvement of surrounding MSN Messenger and Skype that consumers are familiar with voice and video calling through simple to use. In addition to this the widespread availability of high-speed Inteet at home and on the road, which has presented a viable option for communication. Karen Hoskins, a company spokesman, says, "MSN came out with Video Conversation recently, which is synchronized audio and video calling software embedded in their last client MSN Messenger. Logitech provides the technology that synchronizes audio and video streams and operates the servers that support Video Conversation. It 'really makes it easy for people who are already using MSN Messenger to make video calls now. "In addition, Skype recently put video to their customers. We are seeing more and more of it. And with the emergence of broadband in most homes, has become a more profitable for people to use the voice and video when they do their vocation. Because they have to put the video into something that people are already comfortable, makes it much easier for consumers. Video call becomes a simple extension of what we are already confident in using. A common theme through the adoption of driving a variety of product types is ease of use and relevance to the needs of the traveler. According to Norman Rose, "To be effective, the platform must use personalization techniques and rich user interfaces to simplify the process and provide added value to the user. The information must be relevant to users based on their specific needs, and their specific location. The key to making this information more situation appropriate is to combine the location and personal preferences of users to filter information based on their personal circumstances and needs. Portable Entertainment: As digital entertainment has become an important part of normal life, when consumers travel this demand stimulation does not seem to fade. Sling Media Slingbox? can be connected to any TV you have in your home, or digital cable, regular cable, the rabbit ear installation, DVD, HDD, etc., and allows viewing of remote access. Jeremy Toeman VP of Market Development Management explains, "The Slingbox at home, is always and always deliver the food to live TV, where you are in the world, remote access through any device with Inteet connection that it is a laptop or a portable device like a mobile phone or PDA. Business travelers, who find themselves in unfamiliar environments for extended periods of time, welcome the opportunity to exploit some of origin through the Slingbox. Driving the popularity of this product according to Toeman is the high percentage of households with access to high speed inteet to create the necessary network, in addition to laptops outselling desktops supporting the movement by consumers to a mobile life style. "Inteet connections are more available and accessible, in conjunction with Microsoft and other companies leading the charge of video compression technologies so that you can stream a low bandwidth efficient enough," adds Toeman. Moving from in-the-vehicle, the person is XM2go radio (NASDAQ: XMSR), which are the first and only portable satellite radio capable of receiving live. These devices allow access to 160 channels of live XM, with about 5 hours of programming, it is useful in areas where radio reception is available. The radio has a built-in FM transmitter to beam content that may XM radio FM frequency allowing travelers to use their hotel clock radio to listen. This month, the Company has submitted the next-generation XM2go radio, which plays MP3 music files, in addition to live XM. The time seems right for the second XM2go devices XM Radio spokesman David Butler who states: "The popularity of XM radio is a combination of high quality programming and technological innovation. XM offers more entertainment than it has ever been available before the radio. When you combine this variety of programming with advanced technology that XM offers consumers and 'the will to carry portable products, it is easy to see why XM is one of the fastest growing audio product available. "Coby Electronics Corporation, a manufacturer of portable DVDs, innovates for different lifestyles with slim, elegant, color models and compact size. Robert Gee, Vice President of Marketing, describes the applicability of Coby products, "Consumers are always in motion, and products that can be very dynamic that will make sense for travelers, families, etc. Therefore, these products are very meaning for families traveling with children as a way to keep portable entertained. The convergence of Technology: As consumer demand for greater mobility in the field of converging technologies has increased, in line with the trend toward portability. Businesses, through innovation, have created products for the jouey to eliminate the need to carry multiple devices, providing all-in-One solutions. "The n? We combine combine different technologies into one device. It allows you to simplify travel by eliminating the need for maps, travel books, coupons, etc. hours a traveler has everything they need in a slim, elegant device that can easily carry in your pocket, "said Myers. As described by Darryl Cohen, "Due to the convergence of technologies, mobile phones and mobile devices have become much more functional and easier to use. AskMeNow to why people have become able to use a small qwerty keyboard rather than the popularity of text messaging and SMS, it's easy transition to the use of our service to get answers to specific questions. "Companies continue to evolve their products through convergence to meet the growing consumer needs and expectations of travelers. David Butler says: "Introducing the next generation of XM radio this spring. They added the feature of being able to store and play MP3 music files and have the ability to store up to 50 hours of XM content to 5 hours of current models allow. Similarly, when you hear a song you like on XM, you can connect your choice and the device in place on your computer and you find that song in the Napster library for downloading a permanent copy of the song. Therefore there is a new convergence, not only allows you to combine XM with MP3 players, but you can also buy songs you hear on XM Napster perfectly. "" Al Coby, we try to meet the needs of consumers through the features that our users are looking for versatile products that technologies are converging into one unit that is easy to use and adapt to their environment, "Gee has said. As the electronics industry continues to evolve and the convergence of technologies to meet the demand of travelers and consumers, it seems that innovation will gradually lead to smaller, more powerful and more functional and applications to meet the needs of users, while far at home and at work. Ann-Marie Fleming Ann-Marie Fleming completed her MBA in the United States, where she attended Webster University. He also holds an Honors BA from the University of Toronto. He has more than fifteen years of experience in the financial sector including banking and retail brokerage, investment banking, brokerage and mortgage in the U.S. and Canada, with solid experience in research. Disclaimer: