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[splint]

Hi,

I've never owned a smartphone before as I my employer won't allow camera phones on site (I work in the automotive sector with prototype vehicles) and I want to have a GPS with me when I head to South America later this year.

I've been doing a bit of research and I'm thinking of buying a phone to use then selling it when I get back. I'm trying to find out what good apps there are for travelers. Things of interest to me are GPS integrated city tours, PDF readers (for reading travel guide books), Spanish/Portuguese/English translation or phrase book apps. Anything like that.

I've yet to decide what type of phone or operating system to get, that will depend on software compatibility.

So, what apps are useful to travelers like us?

Thanks
Splint

[travelingdiva]

I can only really tell you about iPhone, since that is the best I've found for traveling and I only have my Blackberry to compare it to. There are a lot of applications, but more importantly a few good free ones. They of course have navigation software for walking and driving. You can get a Lonely Planet app that you can download more interactive guides to, so you don't need just a PDF (though you can read PDFs as well). You can also get Kindle from Amazon so you can read books without having to carry them around with you. There are a lot of translation apps and many are free but the free ones generally require network access (phone or wifi).

On both Blackberry and iPhone you can get TripIt, which I really like for storing all my itinerary information, like flight confirmations, hotel reservations, car and train bookings, etc.

Hope that helps!

Laura

[topfer]

Many play the app development game, few make what could even pass as part-time income from it. You actually might have a better shot at striking it rich as a freelance writer. Hell, just play the lottery instead – better odds.

Really like Steve Jobs - i like Apple because its smart and it dares to be different. the iphone was really the very first smartphone and it soon had many apps for travellers. Pretty neat apps like But this latest strutting from Apple is a dismay.


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[wisconsin_fan81]

Kayak is indispensible, Tripit, Flightstats, the Rick Stevens travel guides, and Layar reality browser. Also search the cities you are going to, then maps (i.e. Budapest Maps) or even just the city and you will get all kinds of maps, transit routes, and travel guides. don't forget to change sim card or get international coverage....learned that lesson once.

[kimmykimmy]

my favorites are tripit, Trip advisor, around me and sky scanner. These are all from iPhones. It's the only smartphone I own.








iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, iPad2, Travel International Motorola (At&t,T-Mobile and SmartFree Quattro SIM) iSip from InTouch SmartCards

[galericulate]

I like to have a VoIP app with me when I travel - saves lots of money as most hostels have free or cheap wifi while international charges from normal operators usually are insane!

My personal favourite is Plingm - it's a fairly new app but I have convinced the people I call the most to get it as well. You can make free calls when both people are Plingm users, otherwise you can buy minutes to make calls to landlines and mobiles without Plingm, much cheaper than normal international rates. Works for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android!

[alanseong]

Try "RippleAway" - Social Trip Planner/Organizer. It's on both Android and iPhone and is Free.

You can track and easily share flight status, trip itineraries, check-ins, and locations privately with close friends and family. Also you can instantly update and connect with your loved ones via email, sms, or cross-platform push notification.

www.rippleaway.com