Snap2Travel has developed an intriguing piece of technology for mobile devices to allow users to receive travel prices and availability simply by taking a picture of a product.
The service is in its relative infancy and currently being trialled through German travel agency Dertour after six months of development by Ireland-based Snap2Travel, a group headed by industry veteran and former head of Traventec Greg Cawley.
Currently only running on Apple iPhone handsets through an app (but with Android and Blackberry version expected by September 2010), Snap2Travel works by using the handset’s in-built camera to take a picture of any travel-related image, such as a destination, hotel front or attraction.
Through a partnership with image recognition technology provider Kooaba and similar to Google Goggles, Snap2Travel determines the location or product and connects to the Dertour system and sends back rates, availability and other information direct to the user.
The user can then book directly or be connected to the agent.
The idea is that the app will bridge the gap between when a user is inspired by something they see when on-the-road or away from a computer (newspaper article, poster, travel agency window or newspaper advertisement) and when they have a chance (often at a desktop) to check for details or availability.
Here is a video guide:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtkJgwuPNsQ
A logical extension will be to have multiple agencies or other providers plugging into the system so that the user can toggle between prices and
Call it image-based travel search maybe?
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by gcharlton, DonaldS, Stuart McDonald, Karen Bryan, David McLean and others. David McLean said: RT @kevinlukemay: THIS IS VERY CLEVER! Take a picture with a mobile and get instant prices from a travel agent http://bit.ly/an4Lx3 [Tnooz] [...]