TripAdvisor has shared that the TripAdvisor app was downloaded an average of 25 times per minute in January 2012 and has now surpassed 15 million total downloads of the TripAdvisor app across all platforms and devices in 20 languages.

The company also stated that it is, after Google Earth, the world’s most downloaded travel app, referring to download data for 2011 provided by app research company Distimo.

The company has mobile apps available for the iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7, Nokia, and Palm smartphones, Android tablets, iPad, and a mobile website available for all major mobile devices.

Earlier this month, TripAdvisor shared that the company reached 13 million total downloads of mobile apps and 16 million unique visitors per month via mobile devices as of December 31, 2011.

New app

The company has also unveiled its new HTML5 cross-platform tablet app, now available in the Android marketplace.

According to TripAdvisor, the app features a clean and simple interface, making it an easy way for travellers to access the millions of reviews and opinions on TripAdvisor. 

Travellers can see a list of top ranked hotels, restaurants, attractions and more in a destination and use filters to make quick comparisons and choices to meet their travel needs.

In addition, recognising that over 50 percent of travellers intend to use their phones to find hotels, attractions and restaurants near their current location, TripAdvisor has launched a widget for the Android app, which loads a page on users’ mobile desktop to always show the nearest hotels, attractions and restaurants to where they are.

Usage

In its annual travel trends survey of more than 2,700 US travellers (unveiled in November 2011), TripAdvisor indicated that 44 percent of US travellers plan on using their mobile phone or smartphone more as a travel resource during trips in 2012.

Some of the findings from TripAdvisor’s 2012 Travel Trends Forecast were as follows:

·    47 percent expect to use their mobile device for their travel needs at their destination.

·    37 percent will use a mobile device for restaurants research, 27 percent will use one for attractions research, and 26 percent will use one for accommodations research.

·    31 percent plan to use travel apps on their mobile device or smartphone in 2012.

·    16 percent plan to use travel apps on their tablet devices.