When it comes to flight information, or to be more accurate, flight statuses, push notification can be a godsend. Case-in-point, Worldmate Gold (iTunes link), one of the first iPhone travel apps to utilize the new OS 3.0’s push notification capabilities. The downside? It’s $20 (well, $19.99).
If you do much traveling this is one iPhone app you may actually be delighted to pay that $20. Also, there’s also a free version (iTunes link), although that version does not have push, the compelling feature of the app. If you’re quick though, you can grab one of the 40 free copies of the Gold version WorldMate is giving away to TechCrunch readers. Simply email techcrunch@worldmate.com and they’ll contact you if you’ve won.
WorldMate begins winning you over in the itinerary building stage. It offers a couple of ways to automatically build it for you. One way is to enter the info directly on WorldMate.com. The second is by email—manually, or using an Outlook toolbar. WorldMate is able to parse confirmation emails from over a hundred travel agencies, airlines, hotel chains, and car rental agencies. Once it has automatically pieced together all of your trip details and stored key data such as confirmation numbers, phone numbers and seat numbers, the itinerary is synced over-the-air to the iPhone app.
This is the point where the app’s killer-feature begins to shine. Having integrated with various data sources such as GDS, airline systems (including low-cost airlines that are not on GDS), the FAA and airports, WorldMate is able to monitor flight statuses for over 350 airlines worldwide. This allows them to send out immediate push notifications when flights are delayed, canceled, diverted, and even when there’s a gate change.
Now it’s certainly of value to know that changes to your flight have occurred, but it’s even better to be able to react to them, and the WorldMate app lets you do just that. For example, say your flight has been canceled, the app will help you find alternate flights to the destination. It will also assist you to book a hotel room. Here’s something pretty cool: WorldMate uses heuristics to sort the results so if it’s after 10pm, they’ll recommend a hotel near the airport, otherwise they’ll recommend a hotel near a choice of city landmarks.
The rest of the hotel hotel booking features available in both the free and premium versions are pretty useful as well. There are three ways to search for a hotel: Itinerary Location, for example, ‘Find hotel near my meeting with TechCrunch HQ’, Current Location, which utilizes the iPhones embedded GPS, and finally Standard Search, by specifying city, times, etc. Hotels are ranked according to the user’s preferences which are saved for future re-use. These include budget, brand, and amenities, which are all rated by importance to the user.
There are also some basic features that round off WorldMate as the Swiss army knife of apps for the business traveler. These include a self-updating exchange rate calculator for over a hundred currencies, worldwide weather info, home and travel destination clocks and a tip calculator.
one thing i want to make sure of when we give free apps via emails like this is that the company promises not to spam those emails. We had a problem with that a month back, don’t want to deal with that again.
Michael – Rest assure, WorldMate wil not spam or otherwise misuse the users’ emails.
Michael: Don’t rest assured. I tried WorldMate. You may not start the app without giving out email.
A week later, email from WorldMate, telling me they want to “touch base with me.” I tried to find a way to tell them to stop. I scoured their web site, looked for support. Not possible. Check iTunes reviews: Other folks have the same trouble. Checked Google, found lots of other people complaining about spam from WorldMate also.
I get emails from WorldMate and they have an “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the emails.
It’s the same with Linkedin, Facebook, and any other service. Can’t get you, man.
Ah yes, of course I tried “unsubscribe” first!
1. It did not work.
2. I did not subscribe in the first place.
Unwanted email from a business = spam as far as I am concerned!
I think I should get special treatment and win automatically for having the first comment. Love you Rio, Arrington and Co.
Damn it Arrington!
I retract my statement.
How do we get a free copy?
Nevermind *facepalm*
Are you serious did you even read the article? Moron
This looks like a really useful app, but I’ll pay the fee just to show support.
my email was rejected as spam?
Final-Recipient: rfc822; wmlive_support@mobimate.com
Original-Recipient: rfc822; techcrunch@worldmate.com
Action: failed
Status: 5.0.0
Diagnostic-Code: X-Postfix; host mail.mobimate.com[192.114.178.140] said: 550
5.7.1 Message rejected as spam by Content Filtering. (in reply to end of
DATA command)
Mine as well… Looks as though they haven’t setup the email address yet.
Guys, I’m looking into this. Stay tuned.
“one thing i want to make sure of when we give free apps via emails like this is that the company can receive emails at the address we post”
DO/Brian–Got word that they are receiving emails and are sending out replies at this very moment. If you don’t get one, @msg me your email address and I’ll make sure you get hooked-up.
I would like a copy…but i don’t know what you mean by @msg…
Sent email – do reply yet, but also not error? Here my email: arthurk (at) gmail.com
Thanks!
Sent email also, but no reply back. Should I do another with read receipt?
I sent an email to that address at about 12:18am PDT, was I supposed to get an auto reply at that time? Was the address up yet?
no reply yet so i’ll just add my email here: me (at) brianveen.com
thanks for the follow up Roi
just in case
jimmynetstep@gmail.com
just gonna say that I emailed mine off at 11:57 from a mobileme account and never got an email. but, i’ll easily pay for it when it’s at 99c in the App Store.
Seems as if this is a nicely thought out app!
push notification (old school SMS that is) can already be signe-up for on almost any airline these days at the point of ticket purchase, plus sites/apps like orbitz and kayak, iTrip, and the last one already has push options too…most of which are free.
Is WorldMate’s cost still a recurring annual fee?
Should be worth mentioning if we have to pay $20 every year, or even if the winners of the free copies have to pay $20 next year to keep using the software.
mine as well
Just worked for me btw
did you get a response?
Best. Commercial. Ever.
Got it already, great app!
It’s great to get the exposure on TC. If you want to see a real commercial follow the link below http://www.yout...h?v=RuWl1gQA3FI
I’m giving it a whirl. Sounds outrageously useful, really.
looks like gmail is getting caught in the spam filter possibly.
Hi Simon,
A few of the emails got caught in the spam filters but the vast majority made it through.
If you are still experiencing issues please contact Roi and or email me directly jm at worldmate.com.
Jonathan
I think this might be happening. I sent off a e-mail (from my gmail address) as soon as this was posted, and still haven’t seen a reply.
I’m on a plane tomorrow, so this would have been of immediate use. Ahh well.
Just got my code. Thanks all!
TripIt does a lot of this stuff.
This app has been out for years on the Nokia! In fact it came free on my Nokia E71.
I’m glad you finally got it on the iphone but seriously, you’re late to the game as is always the case with the iphone.
Another reason why the http://iphonessuck.com
Apart from the negativity about the iphone being such a backwards phone. I do need to add in that World Traveller is fricking awesome if you travel a lot. Really really good, found it invaluable.
So, the reason that WorldMate didn’t release this software for the iPhone BEFORE the iPhone was available is the fault of iPhone owners?
Make sense.
I used to use WorldMate on Windows Mobile but I objected to the $60 annual fee.
Great piece of software, I hope the licence is better.
We deliver you nothing but the best @ http://www.thessayist.com Check it out for yourself @ http://bit.ly/n6HuE You have to admit it is a revolutionary service.
GAW! COMMENT SPAM!!
emailed in within 20 minutes of the article going up. was that fast enough for other people to get a copy? not sure what’s going on with this spam thing
Hi Kenny,
Some of the emails got caught in our spam filters but we checked the timestamp and made sure that the first 40 users (including those cuaght in the filters) received the free code.
iTunes limits the number of free codes so we decided instead to reduce price to 99 cents to give TC readers a chance to experience the app.
http://www.worl..._gold_iphone_tc
Jonathan
Sorry Roi, this article was badly written.
I really like the story but it leaves a lot to be desired grammatically.
It was distracting.
NOTE FROM WORLDMATE’S CEO
Thanks everyone for all this participation!
First – regarding the free codes and the email / spam issue: We downloaded all the emails, including the ones who were spam-filtered, ordered them by time-of-arrival, and have awarded the 40 Free licenses on that basis. So even if your email was caught by the spam-filter – you were treated fairly.
BUT:
We got hundreds of requests, not 40, and we ran out of codes. The way the iTunes App Store works, we can’t issue any more (until after we have an upgrade ready). So we can’t give as many as we’d like for free.
SO:
After a quick internal discussion – we’ve decided to drop the price to $0.99 for 24 hours so ALL TechCrunch readers, even those who weren’t among the first 40, can get it virtually for free too. So until midnight today (PST) it’s only $0.99 .
Thank you all for the kind comments!
Nadav
Don’t be too upset tho. After checking the App Store reviews I’m not sure it’s worth the space it will take up on my phone.
We now know why there are so many poor support reviews.
Promotion fail. Application fail.
Folks–there are no more free copies available, but WorldMate has dropped the price down for 24hours from $19.99,to $0.99–go crazy!
The App Store is still showing WorldMate at $19.99… when does the sale go into effect?
Hi Brent,
It can take up to a few hours for the price change to propogate through the various iTunes stores. Thank you in advance for your patience
h
Jonathan
you never hooked me up like you said you would roi
FAIL, I emailed 3 hours ago and this is the email I get now:
“Thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately the TechCrunch promotion was limited to the first 40 applicants and has run out.”
Thanks for the hookup.
Check out my comment below – we’ve found another way to reward TechCrunch readers.
I got my free copy so i wont have any comments except thanks!!!
PLEASE be honest and say that this is a fee for one year.
Next year I expect it will revert to $20
Great ad but Before you spend $$$ to buy this for iPhone make sure to check the reviews on the App Store. Even apps on the iPhones in the Apple ads do not necessarily have good reviews on the average.
Apps don’t have good reviews, in general, because all the frustrated users are the ones who make the effort to post comments.
Very valid point. I am buying right now on Apps Store (at 99 cent price) and will be the biggest booster if it works well.
World mate is nice app, got few more from iTune in entertainment category such as iWound is cool which is fashion and art mag having videos, music and much more..
i like iphone
I really wish I would have seen the tweet earlier… I totally missed out… this is the perfect app for me to have and be able to demonstrate to the many business customers I deal with on a daily basis… wish I would have caught the tweet earlier… the app store still advertises the app for 0.99 cents when searching the app but once you click on it the price goes to 19.99… is there anyway I can still get one?
Just wait a little longer. The App store takes awhile to update. Some people are already seeing the $0.99
I have a real problem trusting WorldMate! The spam problem has been terrible–nonstop, impossible to stop, and no support system.
Is it worth 99 cents? I heard it was sold for $4 for a while, but gold membership was not honored.
Gold for 99 cents? But the app expires after a year and web site gives no idea on what will happen after that.
Does gold really book hotels? The non gold claims hotel booking, but skips dozens of huge cities!
Looking over iTunes reviews, I have rarely seen an app as hated as WorldMate “normal” and WorldMate Gold–$40, $20, 99 cents? A 24-hour sale won’t convince me! Will it really be 24 hours? I doubt it.
You could have said you work for the competitors …
I am using their application for years it is the best one around for Travelers on all mobile platforms.
and i am a true user unlike you.
Hi Peter,
You raise a few interesting points and I’d like to try and address them.
Regarding our Gold and Free apps: As detailed in the app store product description both versions have hotel booking functionality. Our Gold version has pushed flight alerts as well as other features like Tip Calculator. The Gold version is also ad free.
Regarding our pricing strategy: We’ve experimented with our pricing and at times managed to upset our users. Previous users who were accustomed to $100 yearly subscription on our BlackBerry platform were thrilled with a $20-$40 price range for the iPhone app. New iPhone users who are not familiar with out price on other platforms were up in arms with anything above $9.99. I’d encouirage everyone to take advantage of the this one time price reduction. It won’t last forever.
Regarding reviews: We have over 3 Million users. Many have been with us for years and have developed a real liking toward specific features. They tend to be very vocal when they don’t find the specific feature they’ve grown to love. This is our challenge and our users respond very quickly when they feel their needs are not fully met.
Jonathan
Tripit does most of this, has a brilliant UI, and I’m sure they’re working on push notification.
BTW,
I use the BB version.
works well.
after running out of meetings to catch planes, only to find out flights delayed, I’ll pay the $20 yearly if needed.
I got the $ 0.99 email at 6.07 am PDT and it says the price is at 0.99 for 24 hours.
Now it is 5.20 am PDT and the price is back to 9.99.
No idea how you count 24 hours.
I was not able to get to this until this AM.