3Cinteractive Blog

SMS Text News broke a report from SITA that mobile devices could save airlines over $600 million.  SITA’s report suggested that airlines use location based services to track users and send them message updates to guide them to their gate.

This is a really great statistic, but I see an issue: location based services are still in a primitive state.  That is not to say we don’t have the technology, but more that users are concerned about privacy.  Even the iPhone is limiting application developers to access GPS location in the the new 3G model.

I don’t think location based services are required for mobile to have this much of an impact.  This past weekend I made a trip to NYC using SpirtAir, which is notorious for delayed flights, especially with La Guardia.  My flight back was delayed 7 hours total, enough time that I would’ve enjoyed an early notification before sitting through the 2 hour check-in line.  Needless to say, there were several other passengers that were a bit more animated with their disapproval, and they were all granted free tickets.  

I think this all could’ve been prevented with an early notification to consumers via SMS.  British Airways has used SMS in a similar fashion after realizing that e-mail was useless within 24 hours of the departure time.  While the location based idea is useful, it carries a lot more variables than a standard SMS, which we’re all more comfortable with.  

- Ainsworth