Smartphone Apps for Travellers

It makes me feel old when I think about how much mobile phone technology has developed since I got my first  phone (I think this has something to do with remembering a time when I didn't have a mobile). The whole app phenomena continues to amaze me, there is nothing you can't do with your smartphone! Ok almost nothing...

There are some brilliant apps available for the traveller. Here are just a few that could come in handy when travelling around Oz.

Amazon Kindle - no need to buy Amazon's Kindle e-book reader. The Kindle software allows a traveller to take any of 380,000 books on their smartphone, ipad or laptop (make sure one of them is Discover Australia Kids 'n' All). App is free, books vary in price. Download from bit.ly/iphonekindle

ABC - stay in touch with what's happening around Australia with the ABC iphone app. watch news bulletins, listen to ABC Radio, watch some episodes of ABC TV shows and get ABC weather forecasts. App is free from bit.ly/abcapp

Postcards - create and send email postcards using iphone's built in camera or from WorldCard which has hundreds of professional photos. App is $4 from bit.ly/postmanapp

Skype - make free or cheap phone calls worldwide from your mobile. App is free from skype.com


TomTom GPS - the best voice-guided GPS navigation can now be used from your iphone. Each country is a separate app. Check prices at bit.ly/tomtomapp

Trip Advisor - one of the world's most popular sites for user reviews of accommodation, restaurants and attractions. Fee app from bit.lylocalpicks

Bump - share your contact details with a new acquaintance simply by bumping your phone together. Cheers! App is free from bit.ly/bumpapp

Dropbox - keep important documents (up to 2GB worth for free) on your phone. The app allows for a dropbox folder on the PC or Mac and you can access the folder from your smartphone or ipad. App is free from dropbox.com/anywhere

GeoMaps - lets you download city maps from various sources including Bing Maps for use when you are offline. App is free from bit.ly/geomaps

HearPlanet Lite - turn Wikipedia into an audio-tour guide. This app locates the user then presents (and can read out) Wiki entries about the area. App is free from bit.ly/hearplanet

Layar Reality Browser - point your iphone camera down the street and see visual pointers to places of interest such as shops, restaurants, historical locations and more. App is free from layar.com

Mobile Banking - Westpac, CBA, St George and Bank of Qld offer online banking apps so you can keep track of money, transfer money and pay bills while you're travelling. Apps are free

Nokia Ovi Maps - free maps and optional extra turn-by-turn navigation with voice instructions. Just remember to download your maps in advance to avoid global roaming costs. App is free from bit/ly/nokiamapsfree

ParkingPal - You won't forget where you parked the car when you snap a picture of the rig, it records the GPS location so you can see it on a map later. It also records multi level car parks and alerts you when the meter is due to expire. App is $1.20 from bit.ly/parkingpal

Trip Journal - logs your exact location via GPS, allows you to snap pictures, film videos and share them via social networks like facebook. Keeps a record so you have a cohesive travel journal. App is $1.20 from trip-journal.com

WeatherBug - hourly or daily forecasts for anywhere. App is free from bit.ly/weatherbugapp

Wi-Fi Finder - has a database of 280 000 wi-fi hot spots in 140 countries and doesn't require wi-fi to work. App is free from bit.ly/wififinder

Wikitude - point the phone camera towards something of interest and information about the image will appear on top. App is free from wikitude.org

WunderRadio - Listen to internet radio anywhere in the world. Locates you via GPS and provides a list of local stations, or you can search by location. App is $9 from wunderradio.com

Amazing...