Mobile apps are only going to grow.

With the growing popularity of mobile platforms, such as the iPhone, iPad, Droid, and others, it’s only expected that consumers are likely to see a growing number of applications. With travel showing signs of increase in 2010, the travel industry has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of mobile apps. While most airlines have typically been slow on the uptake with technology, some airlines are getting in on the mobile boom by developing their own apps. SWISS, Southwest, and American Airlines are among a few airlines who have created their own mobile apps for travelers.

Most travel apps that have had some type of air travel element have been general travel planning applications, such as KAYAK or TripIt. 2010 has been the first time airlines, themselves, have gotten serious about developing apps. Airlines obviously recognize the importance of new media, as 2010 was the year when most of them really got involved on the social media front. With an increase in travel and growing popularity of mobile devices, you can expect there to be many airlines who follow suit.

It’s not surprising that Southwest Airlines was one of the first airlines to develop their own iPhone app. Southwest was an early adopter of social media, as they’ve used it effectively the last couple of years to promote travel deals, respond to inquiries, and handle complaints. The app comes well-reviewed, with features that include fare alerts and flight status. It also allows users to book and check-in to their flights.

The latest is SWISS’ app for the iPhone and iPod. Similar to other airline apps, the tool can be most effectively used by frequent travelers on SWISS. The app includes pertinent travel information, such as baggage allowances, airline amenities, flight information, and weather updates. Other cool features I liked were the locations and details of SWISS lounges, access to their Twitter feed for up-to-the-minute information and alerts, and mobile boarding pass. Another important note is that it supports several languages, including English, French, German, and Italian.

I expect many of these airline apps to be most useful for frequent travelers of those airlines who can use it to better manage their account and trips. While I like some of the features of these apps, it would be nice to see airlines do more with apps than just featuring general information that most travelers can get from the mobile versions of their websites.

Photo courtesy of Purplelime.

Apple Inc. has filed patents with the US Patent & Trademark Office for two travel related app ideas for directly interfacing with airline and hotel booking and information systems, along with a third one for fashion shopping. The patents were filed last year, but have just been made public by the USPTO.

Apple travel app patent

The travel services app patent (20100190510) deals with “Systems & methods for accessing travel services using a portable electronic device.”

Application summary says this includes “Such services can include, for example, reserving a travel itinerary, checking-in remotely for a reservation, providing airport information, providing for social networking, obtaining dining or entertainment during travel, controlling and requesting cabin services, providing arrival notifications to third parties, providing destination location information, and the like.”

The hotel app patent application (20100191551) summary says “This is directed to systems and methods for accessing hotel services through a portable electronic device.”

Examples of hotel services cited include “that a traveler can interact with a hotel to make a reservation, check-in, order room service, control room settings, use a concierge to identify attractions of interest in the vicinity, purchase entertainment options, check-out, and schedule subsequent aspects of a trip (e.g., order a taxi, reserve a rental car, or check-in to a flight).”

Apple Hotel app patent

The third patent application is for high-end fashion shopping (20100191578), and includes methods for providing information for promotional and invitation-only events, browsing catalogs, availability of fashion items, and view or provide ratings or reviews for stores or fashion items.

If Apple is willing to risk innovation in mobile travel apps with patents like these, it means they’re actively seeking to book a place at the table as a gateway between mobile consumers and travel service providers.

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RThe importance and growing clout of Twitter as a gateway for the travel industry to tap consumers can no longer be denied.

Twitter Travel Apps

This has in turn unleashed a flurry of twitter applications and websites intent on helping travel marketeers and travelers connect and find what they’re looking for - on and via Twitter.

Of course, it’s early days yet, but just as iPhone travel apps like FlightTracker have made it into the list of top 35 iPhone apps this year, it’s a good bet that some of these twitter travel apps and sites too are headed for the big time.

Here’s an updated list of these twitter travel apps and sites:

TwtTRIP (@twtTRIP) - A travel organizer tool that helps you to share your travel plans, meet people and plan your next adventure on Twitter and other social media sites.

Trazzler Buzz (@Trazzler) – Tells you which destinations and regions are trending hot on Twitter, so you know where to go.

Schmap Geotweets (@schmap) – Add maps to your tweets, and share local restaurants, bars and travel adventures with your followers.

Twihotels (@TwiHotels) – Tweets your hotel requirements on Twitter, and connects you with destination hotels and/or twitter users who are in a position to offer unbiased and first-person hotel reviews.

ArrivedOK (@arrivedok) -  Instantly notify your friends and family when you arrive at airports worldwide. Their mobile twitter add-on application lets you tweet from your cell phone – free of charge – even from abroad, avoiding charges for SMS, voice or data transfer.

Twaller (@mytwaller) – Real-time travel related tweets ( #travel ) pulled in from Twitter, sorted by locations and categories.

Wanderlisting (@Wanderlisting) – Filters Twitter to provide you with up-to-the-minute news, deals, tips and tales from the world’s leading travel experts, bloggers and explorers and presents them to you in one convenient location.

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Twitter’s Travel Search: the Start of Something Big by Dennis Schaal