Apple has proven that they can transform markets and it seems that businesses have taken notice. The iPhone 5 is yet to be released and the latest iOS 6 is expected to be released even later yet it has been confirmed by Australian Business Traveler that airlines have already added support for the Apple’s iOS 6 Passbook.
According to the report, Shaun Lorrain used an iPhone that had the developer preview edition of iOS 6 installed on it to check into a Virgin Australia flight by accessing the airlines website. Surprising the website detected that the iPhone had Passbook installed and prompted the user and asked if they wanted to add the e-ticket to Passbook.
Apple’s Passbook had been mentioned as a new feature for the iOS 6. It allows users to get rid of printed boarding passes, movie tickets and membership cards by using digital versions that can be store on their iPhone. Passbook also offers the user updates on information saved to their Passbook accounts. For example, in the case of airline tickets a user can get flight information including delays an changes in the boarding gate.
If Virgin has already got their end of the Passbook system up and running then observers expect hat other airlines are not far behind. United Airlines has already mentioned that it will support passbook and other major carriers should be following suit.
The Passbook is only part of the puzzle for Apple and its iTravel service. Apple wants to stream line the process of air travel by going paperless and allowing check in and boarding using the iPhone. The company also wishes to allow flight bookings, hotel booking and car rentals. Apple has been quite about the iTravel ecosystem but patent filings reveal the extensive use of Near Field Communications (NFC).
It seems Apple hopes to revolutionize the air travel industry just as it did the music sector with its products and services.
Source: Australian Business Traveler
Photo: Mashable
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Looking closer to home, it looks like Porter Airlines have launched their Passbook passes too.