Fodor's Announces Travel Mapping Tool for Your PDA

Jan. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Fodor's, the world's largest travel information provider, has made the world easier to navigate. No more flipping pages or fumbling with maps -- with the iFodor's product, travelers will now be able to access award-winning destination information on their PDA.

Using a unique mapping application, iFodor's allows you to plan your stay in any of nine popular business and leisure cities around the world: Boston, Chicago, London, New Orleans, New York, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. After a simple, one-time download onto their PDA, travelers will be able to find and read Fodor's listings for restaurants, hotels, nightlife, and shopping information. Easy-to-use icons help to locate choices on zoom-in/zoom-out maps, and travelers can plan routes and read and view step-by-step walking directions. iFodor's provides complete Fodor's sightseeing content.

"Fodor's is creating travel guides of the future by integrating the comprehensive content that our guidebooks provide with interactive search and mapping functions, as well as the practical mobility offered by PDAs," comments Brent Peich, V.P., General Manager, Fodors.com. "iFodor's allows us to simplify the planning experience for travelers and to offer our content in a compelling context."

iFodor's will be available for purchase through an online store on Fodors.com operated by Handango. "Although iFodor's is available to any qualified reseller, we are excited to be able to simplify our user's experience by allowing them to move seamlessly from researching the product to purchasing it," says Peich.

Fodor's has partnered with Gate 5 AG, a software company specializing in the development of technology and applications for intelligent mobile guides, to design the mapping technology and interface. TeleAtlas, a leading provider of digital maps, has contributed the extensive map data offered on iFodors.

"We are very pleased to have a role in the iFodor's product," comments Michael Fisher, Gate5's Managing Director, North America. "The first-rate Fodor's travel information is the perfect complement to our advanced publishing technology, making iFodor's the ideal travel companion."

iFodor's guides are currently available on Palm OS 5.x, Palm OS 4.1.x,Windows CE, and Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2003. In addition to being sold on Fodors.com, the guides are also available for purchase as an online download via Handango.com and Handango's network of e-commerce affiliates.

Source: Fodor's