iPhone News Updated

Hostel World, an online provider of worldwide inexpensive booking accommodations, launched its especially optimized iPhone site version.

Niamh Ni Mhir, Hostelworld’s Chief Marketing Officer, said: “We’re delighted to announce the launch of Hostelworld’s iPhone application. Technology is becoming increasingly significant in the travel sector, therefore we need to be constantly innovating and looking for new ways of reaching our target audience”.

She continued: “Backpackers are an extremely tech savvy market and are well known early adoptors of new technology. According to a recent survey we conducted we found that 95% of backpackers bring either a laptop, digital camera, iPod or mobile phone with them when travelling. With the iPhone set to be the device of choice it was imperative for us to develop and launch an iPhone application with strong core functionality for those on the move, especially as we have noticed a significant increase in the number of visitors to the site from the iPhone since its initial launch,” she continued.

We actually couldn’t agree more - iPhone owners do tend to be the younger crowd living an active lifestyle, therefore requiring one device that can do everything. As such an iPhone optimized portal for the “budget” category of accommodations seems to be a good idea (God knows this writer was stuck last November in Paris looking for a hotel during the transit strike — this service would’ve been VERY useful then). The prices and the options of the site seem to be quite OK, so give it a try at www.hostelworld.com (it will automatically display the iPhone site version for Mobile Safari users).