Thomson trial phone technology

Ally · 03-22-2006, 08:54 AM

22nd March 2006

Quote:

Thomson is planning to send special offers to consumers' mobile phones via RSS as it looks to forge closer links with its customers.

The initiative will be launched within six weeks and is part of a bid to use technology to interact with holidaymakers.

TUI UK head of new media Graham Donoghue said: "Consumers are now deciding what they want to see and how they want to see it. We're becoming less in control of content and the customer is becoming the aggregator of our content."

The move will enable customers to subscribe to particular products, such as flight only or family holidays. The RSS feed will notify them of deals, full details of which can be accessed by typing the url into their phone.

Further developments have seen Thomson launch a blog on its main holidays website, thomson.co.uk.

The blog is intended as an informal way for Thomson to interact with customers and show a more human side of the business.

"Not many organisations are doing this but you will see more and more," said Donoghue. "We wanted to interact and show a personal side of Thomson. The blog puts a slightly more touchy-feely element across."

Posts on the blog, which is in its infancy, so far include guest columns from employees but future plans include customer reviews and even video content.

Donoghue revealed the blog would be available for consumers to call up via their mobile phones.
(TravelMole)