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.”
New Media = New Ideas 