Traveling with SMS

Paul Baker
Reporter
1-19-2009

Of all industries, the travel industry is one of the best suited to taking advantage of mobile technologies. But the industry has yet to take full advantage of the services that are available. The travel industry has been slow in recognizing the opportunities the mobile industry has to offer.

Travelers routinely take their mobile phone everywhere they go, seldom turn them off and will reply to the messages they receive.

Recent polls of travelers found that 51% of all consumers would like to receive booking confirmations by SMS; 45% of young travelers would like to get last minute travel deals via mobile phone; and 57% of all consumers would like to receive information such as gate number and where to check in.

When travelers arrive at the destination there are many ways that the customer's experience can be improved with on-going mobile dialogue. For example, how about a message from the tour rep saying, "Welcome and we are waiting for you at the airport." Weather updates, special events that are planned and translation services available can be value added services that could easily be announced via SMS. The same poll shows that nearly 50% of the traveling public would welcome such a service.

Travel agencies that are using SMS enthusiastically point out that reservation confirmations sent by SMS are not only much cheaper than a letter but provide powerful customer and company benefits - a great deal can be delivered today on nearly every handset. And customers like SMS because they remain in control.