Thirty-eight percent of the
U.S.
respondents have used their mobile devices to plan a trip and 60 percent of
respondents said they have downloaded travel apps on their mobile devices.
While the main reason to
bring a mobile phone on trips remains making calls, according to 47 percent, 19
percent cited communicating online through services like chat and email as the
most important function, according to TripAdvisor, a
travel site.
TripAdvisor announced the
results of its mobile device travel survey of more than 1,000 U.S.
respondents with mobile devices.
Thirty-eight percent said they often
use their mobile devices for tasks other than calls when traveling, and 28 percent said they always do.
Other than calls and
texting, the top activities travelers use their mobile devices for when
traveling include: 65 percent taking/sharing photos, 54 percent surfing online,
52 percent navigation, and 48 percent staying on top of the news and 36 percent
games.
When asked what parts of
the travel planning process they conduct on their mobile devices: 52 percent
researched restaurants, 46 percent read about destinations, 45 percent read
traveler reviews, 42 percent booked or researched accommodations and 34 percent
booked or researched flights.
While traveling, 62 percent
of travelers said they use their mobile devices to research restaurants.
Fifty-one percent check their flight status and 46 percent research
attractions. Twenty-eight percent have checked in to a restaurant, hotel or
attraction using their mobile device while on a trip.
According to the survey, 23 percent
have reviewed a hotel, restaurant, or attraction they’ve visited using a mobile
device while on a trip. 38 percent post status updates to social networking
sites to keep friends updated on their travels.
Around 47 percent of respondents
have used their mobile devices internationally. The greatest frustration with
mobile devices when traveling, not surprisingly, is sporadic connectivity,
according to 35 percent, while 25 percent identified small screens as their
biggest mobile device gripe.
Around 75 percent of respondents
said they use GPS devices when traveling, while 59 percent of travelers have
used the GPS capabilities of their mobile devices.
Smartphone adoption around
the world is skyrocketing, and is fundamentally changing the way people get
travel advice,” said Mike Putnam, director of mobile product for TripAdvisor.
Whether it is finding the perfect museum or restaurant, booking a hotel or a
flight, or sharing advice, it is clear that travelers around the world now rely
on their smartphones and other mobile devices to plan and have better trips.”
TripAdvisor recently
launched a new My Saves” feature for its mobile website and apps that allows
travelers to save hotel, restaurant, and attraction pages so they can easily
find them again for future reference. TripAdvisor has free mobile apps
available for the iPhone, Android, Windows Phone 7, Nokia, and Palm
smartphones, the iPad, and a mobile website available for all major mobile
devices.
By TelecomLead.com Team
