Galaxy S III: The Ultimate Hotel Accessory for London 2012
Samsung's newest smartphone just got smarter.
Back in May, Samsung revealed that the newly-announced Galaxy S III was to be the official phone of the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Part of a collaboration with Visa, the deal would see the GS III equipped with Visa's payWave mobile payment application. Samsung said that Samsung- and Visa-sponsored athletes and trialists will be provided with the phones. However, it's not just athletes benefiting from the Galaxy S III's nifty features at this year's Olympics.
Samsung this week announced a partnership with Holiday Inn that will see guests at the Holiday Inn London Stratford City gain access to a full suite of hotel services via their phones. Thanks to a partnership with Fingi Inc., Galaxy S III owners be able to use their phone for express check-in/out, hotel services including room service, laundry services and hotel facility booking. In addition, they'll be able to use their phone as an in-room phone extension.
Aside from helping with hotel services, the Galaxy S III and its unique Holiday Inn Android application provides complete integrated control of TVs, lights, air conditioning and many other AV and in-room functions. Naturally, it will also serve as the key you use to enter your room.
Sadly, this service hasn't been implemented throughout the entire hotel. Instead, it will initially only be available to VIPs staying at one of the 40 specially-equipped rooms.
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Jane McEntegart is a writer, editor, and marketing communications professional with 17 years of experience in the technology industry. She has written about a wide range of technology topics, including smartphones, tablets, and game consoles. Her articles have been published in Tom's Guide, Tom's Hardware, MobileSyrup, and Edge Up.
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Temp_Username I had this idea years ago when NFC first came out. It makes a lot of sense for technology to progress into hotels like this. Unfortunately not everyone has one of these phones yet so I don't think it will begin to become internationally available in the near future.Reply -
ewood so if you happen to be staying in a VIP suite AND happen to get one of the 40 specially equipped rooms AND you happen to have a galaxy S3 AND you happen to be able to afford to stay there while still being young and tech savvy enough to actually care about the special features then, and only then, you can use your phone to control your room? good investment...Reply -
it will be another best tools that you can carry around in the hotel to hack in everyone's room in less than a second.Reply
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ojas lame title. makes it look like everyone with an S3 can use it in all the hotels in london. as in, for all the hotely stuff.Reply -
jojesa I think it is a start. They might be using the Olympic games to create awareness.Reply
Some of this athletes are getting the phone gratis.
In the near future, we might see this technology hitting a hotel near you. I do hope. -
frank_drebin Can't you just go to the hotel's website and checkout there? why the f you need to build a phone app for that??Reply -
ikyung frank_drebinCan't you just go to the hotel's website and checkout there? why the f you need to build a phone app for that??I dont think you understand where technology is heading.Reply