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Hotel.info debuts mobile reservation service

Hotel.info has entered mobile commerce, extending its “Check & Book” motto to mobile.

Netbiscuits, a software platform for the development and operation of mobile Web sites, has implemented a mobile portal for Hotel.info, an online hotel reservation service. Users can now book a hotel in the desired location with their mobile phones via http://m.hotel.info or an iPhone application.

“The strategy behind the partnership between Hotel.info and Netbiscuits and the launch of the mobile hotel reservations site and iPhone app is to take advantage of Netbiscuits expertise in mobile travel services and booking sites,” said Timo Vavrinec, senior manager of corporate communications at Hotel.de AG, Nuremberg, Germany.

“Our goal was to secure best-quality output on the widest possible range of handsets worldwide and provide a next-generation user experience for smartphones and other high-end devices like the iPhone,” he said.

Netbiscuits operates a B2B Web software platform for the creation, operation and monetization of mobile Web sites.

Customers include Yahoo, eBay, media companies such as MTV, 3TV Malaysia and RTL, as well as international agencies such as Ogilvy, Razorfish and Isobar.

Netbiscuits claims to deliver more than 1.5 billion mobile page impressions every month.

Mobile hotel info
All content on the mobile Hotel.info portal has been designed for use on the go.

Once an appropriate list of hotels has been found, the room reservation can be completed conveniently using any mobile phone.

Hotel.info’s best price option means the cheapest offer can be determined with a single click, according to Netbiscuits.

The usual international classification with stars, as well as the assessment by Hotel.info users, facilitates choosing the right hotel.

Furthermore, mobile users can also use the portal to get information on hotel facilities and services, view photos and find the hotel using a map.

The simplified search function lets users search for specific hotels or hotels in specific price categories.

The service from Hotel.info will also be available as an iPhone application.

This edition will include additional functions and its functionality, look and feel will be optimized for Apple’s touchscreen device.

Hotel.info’s target demographic for its mobile platforms is business travelers and companies of all sizes.

The mobile commerce site and iPhone application will be monetized on a commission-based business model. Hotel.info will charge 12 percent fees on hotel prices.

Hotel.info is getting the word out about these mobile platforms via its Web site and newsletter, which has 1.6 million subscribers worldwide.

Performance marketing and promotions across the mobile Web and within other applications are still to be determined.

“Netbiscuits is our one-stop-shop for mobile solutions, both the mobile Web site and the app,” Mr. Vavrinec said. “They help us cope with the fragmentation of mobile handset hardware and software.

“Netbiscuits also provides high-quality output and a user experience adapted to each device,” he said.