BlackBerry Travel App Launches Free Service for Indonesian Users

BlackBerry has rolled out its Travel App as a free beta for Indonesian users, offering itinerary management, booking and local search for users.

Avid travelers who haven’t used the BlackBerry Travel app yet might want to check out the app out to plan, book, manage, and share travel activities. Travel planning, booking, itinerary management and push notifications are its key features that will turn one’s BlackBerry smartphone into an invaluable travel companion. An added benefit is that users can find deals and make reservations hotel accommodations and car rental options. The app can also be used to convert exchange rates, get weather information, search for local destinations, and arrange for limo services to and from the airport. BlackBerry Travel launched in beta version last week for Indonesia users and is free. Update: BlackBerry Travel is now on official launch, and is still free.

BlackBerry Travel was developed by WorldMate, and comes with an API, which supports its travel industry partnership program. Through the API, users are entitled to access travel partners’ mobile sites for seamless access to information and itinerary details. Having partnered with WorldMate has made it easier for RIM to deal with industry partners. Expedia Affiliate Network provides hotel booking, and Travelport focuses on the corporate market. A desktop app is provided too, which enables the users to do similar things what they do with the app from their computers.

When the email containing itinerary or booking confirmation arrives on the BlackBerry phone, the app will automatically update the user’s calendar with trip details. If a flight is delayed or cancelled, a notification will be sent automatically to the inbox and a new flight will be recommended right away. A user’s entire travel schedule and itinerary is integrated with the BlackBerry calendar. In addition to that, the service integrates with LinkedIn too, so users can search for travel plans of connections, colleagues, business partners as well as share their own travel itineraries with them.

The app also has the feature of identifying scheduling conflicts, something that business users frequently encounter. The app provides suggested means of resolving these conflicts.

BlackBerry Travel was launched in February 2011 in North America, UK, and Spain, with the latest update announced last month. Version 2.0.40.99 improves support for OS 7.1 and adds localized content in Bahasa Indonesia, Brazillian, Portuguese and Dutch.  Like any other BlackBerry app, it can be downloaded from BlackBerry AppWorld. It requires BlackBerry OS 5 or higher and compatible with BlackBerry Bold series, Curve, Storm and Torch.