No Internet? No problem.

The Internet is becoming increasingly important in the travel industry as more people go online to research and book travel experiences. With the innovation of the Internet on cell phones, travelers can continue to get information online throughout their entire trip. However, what happens when their cell phone is out of range and out of service? How can a tourist find out where the best restaurants are and what amenities are provided by their hotel then?

Well, if you’re staying at the Sheraton Maui Resort in Hawaii, you could pull out your iPod and access all of the information available on the resort’s Web site though Notescast, an iPod feature developed by TimeStream Software.

“It’s an exciting new way to use your iPod when traveling,” said Mike Westby of TimeStream Software, according to a press release.

This mobile marketing tactic extends a company’s Web content further than any cell phone or Internet signal can reach. Users simply visit the company’s Web site and download the Notescast onto their iPod before leaving home. Then, up to 1,000 (but typically 75-100) pages of information are at their fingertips! Notescasts provide text, photos, video and audio to make the experience more in-depth and interactive. It is also a great replacement for those bulky guidebooks travelers often carry around. Click on the image below for a closer look at how TimeStream Software explains Notescasting.

The TimeStream Software Web site boasts that “…while the iPhone hopes to sell a total of 10 million units by the end of 2008, the iPod will have sold over 150 million units, and it continues to outsell the iPhone today by a ratio of approx. 7:1.”

For a destination looking to engage a lot of consumers via new media, this looks like it could be a step in the right direction. But, users beware: make sure the iPod battery is fully charged, or this new innovation will not be quite as useful as it advertises.

The Sheraton Maui Notescast may be downloaded free of charge from the Sheraton Maui Web site at http://www.sheraton-maui.com/notescast.htm

Additional Notescast titles available from TimeStream Software include “Walt Disney World Resort”, “Secrets of Walt Disney World Resort” and “Disney’s Animal Kingdom Hidden Mickeys.”

Text to Give

If you read My Vision for this blog, I said that I would blog about the use of new media in both the travel/hospitality and non-profit industries. So far, it’s been a little one-sided, so here is a post for all of the non-profit lovers out there. We’ve been discussing mobile media in my Introduction to New Media class recently, so I was inspired to learn about the various ways non-profits can benefit from this new outlet.

One of the fastest and easiest giving techniques yet has been created with the use of mobile phones. Virtually everyone has a cell phone on them at all times and most people (even my parents!) have learned the basics of sending a text message. A few non-profit organizations have discovered that the simplicity of texting can earn them quick money at critical times.

In June, Verizon Wireless teamed up with Save the Children to help raise money for relief efforts in China because of the recent earthquake and in Myanmar as a result of Cyclone Nargis. Customers simply texted the word “quake” or “cyclone” to 4SAVE and Verizon would add a $5 donation to their monthly bill. This method prevents customers from having to take the time to write a check, find the address, locate a stamp and then get the donation in the mail. Now, in a matter of seconds all of that is done for them. Although some would argue that it’s really not that difficult to mail a check, in an increasingly fast-paced society, every second counts. In addition, the non-profit organizations receiving text donations receive the gift much faster than if they had to wait for it in the mail and in emergency situations such as the relief efforts in China and Myanmar, there isn’t a minute to spare.

Currently, there are only a few organizations employing the “text to give” strategy. Use the links below to learn more about mobile media giving to help your organization get ahead of the game.

mGive is expecting United Way, PBS, American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Keep A Child Alive, IFAW and Amnesty International to launch mobile giving campaigns.
http://www.mobilegiving.org/

PayPalhas an area on their Web site to set up mobile giving for three organizations: Amnesty International, UNICEF, and Starlight Starbright.
https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/cps/mobile/Text2Give-outside

GPS Tours

After UGA’s season-opener on Saturday (Go Dawgs!), I drove to Eastern Tennessee to visit my sister. She lives in a teeny tiny town called Cumberland Gap right near the tri-state border of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. To get there I had to take a number of turns on various country back roads. As I drove into the night, I couldn’t help but wish I had a Global Positioning System (GPS) in my car to ensure that I didn’t miss a turn. As I thought about the innovations that led to the introduction of the portable GPS, I couldn’t help but wonder what advancements would be seen next. So, I did a little research and discovered one way that the travel/tourism industry is using the GPS to better their services.

In July, Bermuda introduced GPS-guided walking tours in three of their most visited tourist destinations—Hamilton, the Town of St. George and the Royal Navy Dockyard. The company, Bermuda Walking Tours, uses GPS Ranger devices to present information through various multimedia forms. They utilize “compelling narratives, engaging musical soundtracks, photography, text and interactive maps,” according to a press release. The information provided via the GPS device is specific to the users current location. As tourists move throughout the city, the information changes to match what they are seeing or where they are located. Tourists can rent the devices for two or three hours at a time and spend as much or as little time at each attraction.

GPS tours are usually available to use on foot or by car. However, some tourist destinations now also provide them in the air—during helicopter tours. A helicopter pilot in Los Angeles also created a GPS tour using Geovative Solutions, a user-friendly website that creates audio tours called GeoTours. In addition, GeoTours Mobile was developed so users can download multimedia tours directly to their personal cell phones. It’s getting better and better!

Although the GPS technology is not necessarily new, this use of it is. As the title of this blog indicates, individuals and businesses alike are taking technological innovations and generating new ideas, such as GPS tours, that are impacting many aspects of life.