What's Up in Wireless

He discreetly took out his wireless PDA, checked for earlier flights, switched his reservation and
got home in time to beat a nasty snowstorm. "I never travel without it," he says of his PDA. "It's
perfect example of how wireless is changing--for the better--life for the business traveler."
Wireless travel management now comes in many forms from many sources.

Want to book, cancel, rebook with nary a phone call?
Amadeus's Wireless Travel Management (WTM) product lets travelers check flight availability and book or cancel flights on 500+ airlines from a mobile device. Passengers can make reservations for any flights leaving between two hours and 12 months from the moment they access the service.

Sprint PCS has partnered with Chicago Consulting Partners (CCP), the eBusiness consulting firm and developer of wireless solutions, to bring wireless applications as a way to extend the Ariba Buyer™ eProcurement application. The CCP solution will enable enterprise customers with Ariba Buyer to wirelessly submit travel requisitions, track the approval process, and act upon requisitions requiring approval via any Sprint PCS Internet-ready Phone. For info: (www.sprintpcs.com).

Like to check in without
waiting on line?
Lufthansa now lets you check into your flight using your WAP. (Most passengers use the service on the way to the airport.) You can also download Lufthansa information services on your mobile phone by selecting (wap.lufthansa.com). You'll find out about arrival and departure times and gate infor-mation for all Lufthansa domestic flights. The corporate Web site www.lufthansa.com has a nifty little demonstration that shows exactly how easy the check-in and information-requesting service is.

Need info?
Singapore Airlines Mobile Services can be accessed via WAP-enabled communications devices. Flight schedules can be accessed up to six months in advance; flight alerts notify you of the arrival or departure of flights through SMS (Short Message Service), on pagers and e-mail. And with Flight Status, you can view real-time arrival and departure information on all Singapore Airlines-operated flights (which excludes code-share flights). Register for the service at www.singaporeairlines.com or through your WAP device.

Visitors to the Hertz Web site, www.hertz.com can now download 29 city guides from Portable InternetTM to their hand-held computers. The Hertz version of the Port@ble GuideTM includes a Hertz location finder, telephone number and operating hours for each branch; a vehicle guide; and interactive maps, local business listings, restaurants and hotel reviews, an address search engine and driving directions to selected points of interest.