Travel booking by mobile phone enters new dimension
A mobile phone travel booking service utilising GPRS or 3G mobile data connections to avoid calls or website searches has been launched.
The software from Shopqwik.com claims to enable users to book a flight in 90 seconds.
More than 25 mainly budget airlines including easyJet, Ryanair and Thomsonfly are available, with British Airways expected to be added.
Thomson, First Choice and MyTravel are also due to offer package holiday sales via the service, according to the Shopqwik website.
Existing content on ShopQwik Mobile includes car rental through Argus Car Hire and hotels through TransHotel.
The company claims users can complete bookings without wasting time on a call centre options or trawling through websites.
Booking details are emailed or sent by text message with payment by credit card made via a secure link authorised by a personal four-digit payment approval number.
Data charges apply for the downloading of live data but the company says a typical booking costs about the same price as a standard text message.
The service is currently limited to users of 19 Nokia Series60 mobile phones and 10 PDAs plus Windows Mobile and Wi-Fi-enabled PCs.
*See TravelMole guest comment, below.
Report by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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