Top 10 Phone Apps for International Travelers10/1/2009

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I’ve compiled a list of the top 10 smart phone applications for international travelers.

Blackberry and iPhone dominate the market when it comes to application development. Each application listed works for one of these smart phones.

Keep in mind that hundreds of new applications are being developed daily. This list is subject to change very soon!

Here is a complete breakdown of my top 10 phone applications for international travelers.

1. Currency (Cost: FREE, Phone: iPhone)

The Currency app is my # 1 rated application for international travelers because it’s the one app I cannot live without. Currency provides a real time feed of up to the minute conversion rates around the world. With a click of a button you can easily calculate the conversion rate when traveling abroad. A must have for all international travelers! Blackberry also has a version, but iPhone’s Currency app is the best around.

2. WorldMate Live (Cost: FREE, Phone: Blackberry)

WorldMate Live is your all in one travel application. This app includes an itinerary manager, hotel booking, up to the minute flight info, maps, and weather forecasts. I’m just touching the tip of the iceberg with WorldMate Live. There are many more features this application can handle.

3. Trip-it (Cost:FREE, Phone: iPhone)

Trip-it is the iPhone’s version of Worldmate live, though WorldMate Live is now compatible with the iPhone. Trip-it allows you to set itineraries and organize all of your travel plans through the web. I think WorldMate Live’s features are slighty better, but Trip-It is a close second and a #3 rating on my top 10 list.

4. Lonely Planet Mobile Phrasebooks (Cost: As high as $14.99 depending on language package, Phone: iPhone and Blackberry)

Having dinner with friends in a nice restaurant in Paris, but don’t speak a lick of French? Lonely Planet’s Phrasebook is here to the rescue! This top of the line language app allows you to translate English into a huge variety of foreign languages. You can live with the peace of mind that wherever you go, Lonely Planet Mobile Phrasebooks has you covered. There is a slight cost for some of the language packs. However, the cost is worth the investment, especially if you plan on staying overseas for any extended period of time.

5. Google Maps (Cost: FREE, Phone: iPhone and Blackberry)

Google Maps has been around for a while now, 5 years+ is an eternity! However, this app remains one of the most important and useful applications for international travelers. Anywhere in the world you want to be, Google Maps will get you there. The built in GPS finds you the best routes and helps even the most direction challenged travelers to get where they need to be.

6. Postman (Cost: .99, Phone: iPhone)

Postman is a simple application you can purchase at the itunes store for .99. When taking a picture, you now have the ability to add a frame, greeting, and send as an e-postcard. A great app for making that perfect photo and staying in touch with friends and family.

7. Flighttrack (Cost: $4.00, Phone: iPhone)

The Flighttrack application works hand in hand with Trip-it, both exclusively for the iPhone. With flighttrack you have full access to a wide variety of flight information. Check flight schedules, predict delays, watch weather patterns, and keep family and friends in the loop of flight arrival status. Flighttrack or Flighttrack Pro are apps that every international traveler who plans on doing a bit of flying needs.

8. Taxi Magic (Cost: FREE, but $1.50 booking fee, Phone: iPhone and Blackberry)

This is currently only a U.S. based application, but I added because it is such a useful application when traveling around America. Hopefully, they will expand Taxi Magic to include other countries. What seperates Taxi Magic from the many other taxi applications out there is that this app connects directly to the taxi computer dispatch system. Which means you are able to get live updates of your cab’s status and can pay with their credit card input system. Great for quickly finding a taxi in your area.

9. HRS Hotel Organizer (Cost: FREE, Phone: Blackberry)

Search through a massive database of hotels, over 200,000, for best prices and availability with HRS Hotel Organizer. You can book your hotel direct with no charge. A very handy application to find the best deals on hotels wherever you are. Great app for international travelers. Oh ya did I mention everything about HRS is free??

10. WHERE (Cost: FREE, Phone: Blackberry)

Rounding out my top 10 is WHERE? What? No, WHERE is the name of this travel application for the Blackberry. This location based app helps find establishments located near you. For example you can find reviews of restaurants, shopping malls, and other businesses located within a walking distance of your location.