The advent of two viable mobile computing platforms (the iPhone and BlackBerry Storm) is expected to have a catalytic effect upon the use of mobile travel applications this year.

Published: 20 Jan 2009

The advent of two viable mobile computing platforms (the iPhone and BlackBerry Storm) is expected to have a catalytic effect upon the use of mobile travel applications this year.

According to Hudson Crossing, which has predicted that significant consolidation and restructuring of the travel industry is inevitable in 2009, has highlighted that mobile will begin to emerge, converge and finally arrive in travel.

"The long expected rise of mobile computing in travel has been greatly over‐hyped. What we believe is different in 2009 is that we expect the advent of two viable mobile computing platforms (the iPhone and BlackBerry Storm) to have a catalytic effect upon the use of mobile travel applications," said Michael W. McCormick, managing partner, Hudson Crossing.

"Current mobile travel applications run the gamut of mobile search and booking applications, to unique destination travel content. What many of these mobile applications have in common is that they take advantage of the convergence of mobile computing usability with easy to access information or travel content over a 3G network that will make the act of traveling itself easier and more enjoyable. Look for more applications to be developed and discussed in 2009, even while fewer people will travel and are willing to spend less to do so."

Eyefortravel is putting together an extensive peace of research on how the industry will be using mobile in 2009. Contact Amy Scarth on amy@eyefortravel.com or + 44 (0) 207 375 7545 to be involved.

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