There is one thing that most of have with us when we travel domestically: a cell phone.
We may leave the guide books and maps back at our hotel room, but the phone is always with us. This is a good thing. Because of its portability, the cell phone is becoming an increasingly valuable tool for traveling–and not just for communication.
A recent promotion by Philips, for example, is aimed directly at those traveling to 17 of America’s largest cities as well as London, Paris and Tokyo.
Philips Simplicity Concierge takes information from Conde Naste publications and websites and “hosts them in one convenient online location” easily accessed through your cell phone via text messaging (WAP not required). Information is culled from concierge.com, epicurious.com, golfdigest.com, houseandgarden.com, newyorker.com, self.com, vanityfair.com, and wired.com.
Simply text the city code (NYC, LA, CHI, etc…) and one of five different categories (dine, shop, fun, feel, see) and send it to “82222.” Within moments, a list of restaurants, shops, entertainment sites, destinations, or “feel-good finds” will be sent back to your cell phone. I tried out “Feel LA” and within one second received a list of spas and phone numbers throughout the city.
Not too bad! Act quickly, however. The promotion only lasts through September.