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Roadtrippers launches an iPhone companion app just in time for holiday travel


Skift Take

The ultimate success of Roadtrippers depends on its mobile apps and although a companion app is a step in the right direction, it’ll need full trip planning capabilities to take off with today’s mobile travelers.

Less than five months after Roadtrippers launched its web app mapping the quirkiest routes for road trips, the startup introduces its iPhone app just in time for the busiest travel period of the year.

Co-founder James Fisher refers to the iPhone app as a “companion app” as travelers won’t be able to plan or book trips directly through the app. As soon as users save a trip on the website, turn-by-turn directions will be available on users’ iPhones. The capability to link online directions and maps to the GPS on a mobile device was users’ most requested feature.

Roadtrippers will eventually launch a mobile version of the web app that allows users to plan entire trips directly on their mobile device.

How Roadtrippers’ web app works

Trip builders on the web app browse through categories that break up the database of activities, restaurants, and hotels that have each been hand picked by Fisher and his wife Tatiana. Although chains will eventually be included in the platform, Roadtrippers started with independently-owned venues to offer travelers options they wouldn’t usually find on their own.

There are over 125,000 users on the site and over 115,000 trips have been planned.

The startup is currently working on an Android app that will be released early next year.  The free app is available today for download from the iTunes stores.

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