AAA launches mobile app

Travel planning and roadside assistance organization AAA unveiled a downloadable application that offers drivers access to turn-by-turn directions and AAA services via mobile phone.
Jeff Green, managing director of location-based technology for AAA, said that about 50% of the 29 million calls received by AAA each year come from cellular phones, providing a large potential customer base for the application, which is currently available for download from Sprint Nextel Corp.
The auto club’s more than 50 million members will be able to access the service and some added features, but non-club members can also use the mobile application without a long-term commitment. AAA is working with another, undisclosed carrier to expand the application’s availability, Green said; carriers will set the retail price of the download, which is now available for $10 per month.
AAA Mobile offers features including audible turn-by-turn directions; the ability to send GPS location information directly to AAA when the user calls for roadside assistance; access to AAA ratings of hotels and other services; and information on AAA-vetted “points of interest” around the country. The technology is provided by Networks in Motion Inc.
Company representatives also pointed out a warning screen that reminds drivers not to program the application while driving, and noted the audible directions don’t require additional handling of the phone.
Stephen Petilli, executive VP of Networks in Motion, said that the various navigation services supported by the company-including services from Verizon Wireless, Alltel Corp., Telus Corp. and U.S. Cellular Corp.-have about 1 million paid subscribers, with a whopping 250,000 users added last month alone.
In an online demonstration of the product, a user is asked whether she wants to send GPS location information to AAA at the same time as she makes a call to request help. Green said that the GPS information is “a shortcut on the process, but the end result is the same” as when a caller requests help from AAA and identifies the own location over the phone to a AAA representative.
The AAA Mobile service does not initially support text messaging because of the possibility of a message being sent but not immediately received, Green said, although he added that AAA was open to exploring SMS functionality.