WorldMate Live Transforms BlackBerry Smartphones into a Traveler's Guardian Angel
Written by WorldMate, Inc
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
Free New Travel Tool Empowers Road Warriors Worldwide
LOS ANGELES--(September 25, 2007)--WorldMate, Inc., a leading provider of travel services for mobile devices, announced today the commercial availability of WorldMate Live, the world's first comprehensive mobile travel service. The WorldMate Live application operates on BlackBerry smartphones from Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM) (TSX:RIM) and manages a traveler's full itinerary, including travel arrangements and business meetings, making all details immediately accessible on the BlackBerry smartphone, and ensures one's trip is as smooth as possible by pushing alerts regarding imminent events.
Serving as the ultimate secret weapon for harried road warriors, the total solution includes an Outlook Add-In and Web site, which work in conjunction with the mobile application to assist the traveler before and during his trip The WorldMate Live system pushes important travel information to the user's BlackBerry smartphone, such as upcoming trip notification, meeting alerts with integrated maps and flight cancellations with suggested alternatives. Unlike traditional mobile travel applications, the automated solution monitors the situation and assists the traveler in resolving conflicts.
"Business travelers are often at the mercy of uncontrollable events and ever-shifting schedules, creating unplanned headaches when on the road," said Nadav Gur, WorldMate CEO. "WorldMate Live takes the capabilities of the traditional mobile platform and enhances them by fusing together the traveler's plans with surrounding world events. We're excited to bring the first 'guardian angel' to road warriors, to help assist in managing the unpredictability of business travel."
The system automatically builds the trip itinerary by parsing travel confirmation emails, and exporting meetings from Outlook. The Web site serves as an optional planning tool in which members can inspect and manage all travel details or collaborate with assistants and peers in planning travel arrangements. All information is pushed over-the-air to the smartphone, where it serves as the portal for a myriad of services, ranging from time and weather at destinations through real-time flight status, schedules and maps and directions.
"As a frequent flyer I am very pleased with the release of WorldMate Live," said Bertil Snel, director at BEA Systems. "The BlackBerry client proactively informs me of any changes to my trip, allowing me to plan my time much more effectively. Having all trip details in one place made me an organized traveler and the application is a valuable addition to the BlackBerry service for every traveler."
"Having a virtual travel assistant at the tip of your fingers wherever you go is obviously a powerful service for travelers," said Jeff McDowell, vice president, global alliances, Research In Motion. "We are very pleased that WorldMate has chosen the BlackBerry platform to provide customers with a wireless window to their travel plans."
WorldMate Live is provided to the public as an open service with all components and offers a choice in membership tiers. An Open Membership is completely free of charge(a) and includes access to all the system's components and basic services including itinerary management and synchronization, travel content and basic push services.
Gold Membership provides access to the premium services that include the flight alert service giving real-time notifications of delayed or cancelled flights on over 200 airlines, comprehensive flight schedules and a mobile travel directory. Gold Membership is provided at $99.95 a year or $9.95 a month.
To become a WorldMate Live Open or Gold member, enter www.wmlive.com/ota/wml/public/worldmatelive.jad on your smartphone or www.wmlive.com on your PC browser.
(a) Wireless data charges may apply.
About WorldMate
A wholly-owned US subsidiary of Lod, Israel-based MobiMate Ltd., WorldMate is a leading provider of mobile travel-related services. Its best-selling software by the same name offers an easy-to-use application that automatically delivers valuable content and services to users' cell phones, turning their mobile devices into a personal travel assistant. Removing stress and paperwork from the travel experience while saving time and money, its host of features put flight status updates, flight schedules, weather, forecasts and currency information in subscribers' hands in real-time. Additional utilities include calculators and world clocks. WorldMate can be downloaded from: www.mobimate.com.
The WorldMate product line is available on the J2ME, BlackBerry, Palm OS, all Microsoft Windows Mobile versions, Symbian UIQ, S60 and S80 Communicators and Desktop PC platforms. It is the only mobile application worldwide to have been a top-10 best seller on more than five platforms. Handset manufacturers, including Nokia, Sony-Ericsson and Hewlett Packard, bundle WorldMate products with their devices, and along with Palm, Symbian and others, have recognized the company's industry leadership. A seven-time recipient of the Handango Champion award in several categories, WorldMate has also received accolades from publications including Geek.com, Pocket PC Magazine, PC Magazine and ZDNet.
MobiMate and WorldMate are registered trademarks of MobiMate, Ltd. The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM assumes no liability and makes no representation, warranty or guarantee in relation to third-party products or services. All other trade names and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
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