Social networking site expands mobile services
Social networking site WAYN.com is hoping to expand its range of services available on mobile phones.
The company plans to open up its most popular functions on the site to users’ mobile phones and other portable devices.
WAYN currently enables users to download a speaking translation facility to their mobile phones for a fee but wants to enable users to access their mail and travel guides and update their profiles.
Director of sales, marketing and communication Annika Erskine said: “We want WAYN to be available in a number of different ways and outside the main times when people use the internet. We want to give them access in their pockets.”
The company is also looking at making travel itineraries available on mobile phones and flight status alerts.
Other speakers at the mobile travel session at World Travel Market said bookings on mobile phones were beginning to happen and that the medium was also being used to reduce operating costs.
Mobile Travel Technologies executive director Gerry Samuels said: “There are bookings being made in the developing markets where people don’t have residential broadband access.”
Samuels added that the technology would also be more widely used to cut queues at airports. IATA has just approved a 2D bar-code to be sent to travellers’ mobile phones to speed-up check in.
Meanwhile, Handy Group is developing a mobile transactional service for accommodation specialist hotels4u.com.
Chief executive Michael Lacy said: “Mobile still has a long way to go and it is a fairly complex area but the potential rewards are phenomenal.”
Lacy added that mobile phone penetration was now the same as television.
by Linda Fox
Linda Fox
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements