Bridge Mobile, Sybase deliver one-stop mobile travel portal

Bridge Mobile and Sybase recently announced their collaboration on Bridge ConciergeGo, a one-stop mobile travel portal that provides travelers and roamers convenient access to useful information on their mobile phones.

Bridge ConciergeGo currently covers eight Asian markets and 13 major cities, including Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane), Hong Kong, India (New Delhi, Mumbai), Indonesia (Jakarta, Bali), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), the Philippines (Manila), Singapore and Taiwan (Taipei), with additional markets planned in due course. 

Bridge ConciergeGo is available to roamers on Bridge Mobile Alliance member-networks. Access to the portal is free with no subscription or pre-registration required.

Sybase developed the Bridge ConciergeGo portal platform based on Sybase’s popular AvantGo mobile Internet service.

Bridge Mobile and Sybase will leverage AvantGo’s expertise in mobile advertising and content to offer the service with local advertisements and promotions tailored to benefit roamers on the Bridge Mobile Alliance member-networks across Asia.

AvantGo is a free service from Sybase that delivers rich, personalized mobile websites to smartphones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

Today, hundreds of major brands, including BMW, CNET, HP, Jeep, Microsoft, The New York Times and Rolling Stone leverage AvantGo to target a highly desirable demographic of millions of registered users.

"Subscribers of Bridge Mobile Alliance member-networks are now able to enjoy quick and easy access to useful travel information on their mobile phones when they roam," said Benjie Henares, president of Sybase Philippines. 

Seow Yoke Kong, vice president for service and technology development of Bridge Mobile, said, "The creation of Bridge ConciergeGo is to address the growing need for information mobility — being able to access information where you need it and when you need it."

"With Bridge ConciergeGo, users can conveniently obtain essential local travel information and merchant promotions within the convenience of their mobile phones when they roam, thereby enhancing their roaming experience across Asia on Bridge Mobile Alliance member-networks. The portal is also a potential launch pad for other location-based applications to be developed in the future," Seow added.  

Bridge ConciergeGo is accessible on mobile phones at http://conciergego.mobi. The following categories are available:

• City guide

Information on tourist attractions, shopping, dining and entertainment places, hotels and highlights on latest local events.

• Weather and currency converter

Daily weather conditions and weather forecasts over the next two days of travel; get instant updates on daily currency exchange rates and make currency conversions.

• Useful information

A useful contact directory such as tourist information hotlines, taxi services, emergency numbers and embassy contacts.

• Bridge Mobile Alliance information

Information on Bridge Mobile Alliance and its virtual home environment" roaming benefits such as easy access to home short codes, Bridge Concierge and Bridge Prepaid top-up counter locations.

• Local promotions

A list of special promotions and offers available in each market.

Established in November 2004, Bridge Mobile Alliance is Asia-Pacific’s largest mobile alliance group. The alliance is a current partnership of nine leading mobile operators in Asia-Pacific, namely, Airtel (India), CSL (Hong Kong), CTM (Macau), Globe Telecom (Philippines), Maxis (Malaysia), SingTel Mobile (Singapore), SingTel Optus (Australia), Taiwan Mobile (Taiwan), and Telkomsel (Indonesia), as well as nine technology associate members.

Bridge Mobile Alliance operates through a Singapore-incorporated joint venture company, Bridge Mobile Pte Ltd.

Bridge Mobile Alliance offers significant commercial benefits and economies of scale to alliance members. Through close collaboration, alliance members can leverage on collective capabilities and best practices to develop relevant and innovative mobile services for the Asia-Pacific market. 

It will invest up to $40 million to build and establish a shared regional mobile infrastructure, and to deliver a wider suite of regional mobile services.

It is also focused on creating a consistent delivery of mobile services across the region, thus offering customers a seamless experience beyond borders.