[QUOTE=mathiasvestergaard;17774532]Dear fellow travellers
I think it could be valuable for the leisure traveller and families who want to somehow document their vacation without having to take field notes. With that app they can share their trip with grandma when they get home in an easy way.
Facebook and Google+ already do this, with millions of users already connected. You have a major uphill battle for competition.
Originally Posted by
mathiasvestergaard
But it could also prove to be useful to the business traveller who keeps track of expenses from many different meals, locations, hotels etc. Having an easy way to access where you were at a given time, incl. the picture you took of that receipt which is now missing, could be a life saver in an IRS audit.
I can already store this on my phone, why do I want to send it to a third party? If I'm worried about my phone getting lost/stole, Google+ and others allow automatic upload to the cloud of all pictures you take.
Originally Posted by
mathiasvestergaard
In order to get the app out to the public they are investigating potential partnerships with airlines who can offer a free introductory download (on the in flight wifi?) as part of the itinary or boarding pass.
Those who worry about their privacy are going to be very reluctant to allow airlines or others to provide this app, since they will be worried about what data they are actually receiving.
Originally Posted by
mathiasvestergaard
In this regard they are interested in the opinions of travellers and travel industry professionals.
What do you think?
1) would you as a traveller find such a service offer interesting and useful?
No. I can already do this with FB if I wish.
Originally Posted by
mathiasvestergaard
2) do you think an airline would find this valuable as they build community?
If the airline could request the user to access (anonymously) some of their tracking data the information gathered could be of enormous value to them: Where passenger come from before arriving at the airport? Did he take the train, bus or car? How long prior to check-in/departure time did he arrive? Did he hire a car upon arrival? Where did he go? etc etc.
Airlines already have plenty of this data from your PNR, linked mileage/points accounts, etc. Not sure they would gain any additional info.
I'm sure Facebook, Yelp, Foursquare, etc. are more than happy to sell the airlines all the data they gather without the airlines having to manage it themselves.
You also have some technical issues. Automatic tracking would require GPS to be enabled all the time, which is a battery killer. It also does not work in subways and buildings, so precise tracking would be difficult.
You have a major uphill battle against entrenched competition and privacy concerns, but good luck.