CONNECTED TRAVELLER

Start-ups, major brands, outlandish ideas or solid technological advances: among the thousands of exhibitors at CES 2023, Voyages d'Affaires has scoured the aisles of the show to select the most useful new products for business travellers.

Egencia has updated its mobile application to include features that business travellers have come to expect.

It's a wish that sounds like an injunction. Star Alliance wants 50% of its member airlines to adopt biometric technology by 2025, to reduce airport congestion and facilitate passenger check-in.

Virtually identical design, but new features and high performance: Apple has unveiled its new iPhone 14 range.

Oppo has unveiled its new generation of Reno8 mid-range smartphones. These are models whose camera quality and performance are on a par with premium offerings.

Samsung has unveiled the next generation of its foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold4. It's a premium business tool, with a taskbar just like on a PC and applications designed for mobile working.

Samsung has recently unveiled two new top-of-the-range products: headphones with rich sound and a connected watch dedicated to health and sport.

Alaska Airlines will be the first airline in the US to launch an electronic baggage tag programme. The programme will be in place by the end of the year.

The IHG group is offering a redesigned application to accompany the development of its One Rewards loyalty programme.

Business travellers will soon be able to book a rental car or train ticket using CWT's mobile application or its online portal.

Taxi company G7 has redesigned its G7 Subscriber application, offering business travellers 17 levels of service and a real-time display of approach time and estimated journey time.

The Amex GBT mobile application will include a virtual assistant to help business travellers deal with simple requests.

Mobile key and one-button dry cleaning, more dynamic search and relevant promotions, holiday rental bookings: Android users will benefit from a redesigned Marriott Bonvoy app.

During its keynote, Google revealed some information about the design of its new Pixel Watch connected watch and the Pixel 7 series smartphones, both of which are due to be launched this autumn.

Uber wants to accelerate its diversification by opening up to booking plane tickets, train tickets and hotel rooms. A pilot project will be launched this summer in the UK.

Cytric, the business travel management tool developed by Amadeus, is now integrated with Microsoft under the name Cytric Easy.

Travellers' choices when it comes to the services and products offered during a trip could increasingly be influenced by interactive video. Sebastian Beck, Director of International Sales at ISO Travel Solution, the company behind Travel:up Video, explains this in an interview.

With its new premium smartphone, Oppo wants to play in the big league when it comes to imaging. This includes innovative stabilisation, more natural rendering and optimised sensitivity.

Four applications from rail operators are being tested: DB, Trenitalia, CFF and SNCB. Four applications that are generally easier to use than SNCF Connect. And the French rail operator should take some inspiration from them...

The new premium smartphone from Korea combines the functions of a professional tool, with its integrated stylus, with an innovative photophone. The result is a combo that stands out in the premium smartphone market.