WorldMate CEO blog – Nadav Gur

Thursday, October 9, 2008

iPhone Musings - Episode II

It was over a year ago when I commented on the shortcomings of the iPhone as a business tool on this blog. Since then, that post got the most reader comments I ever got here... Lately, we're inundated daily with user requests for WorldMate Live on their iPhone. And certainly - the iPhone SDK and the iPhone 3G are not to be ignored.

However, there are significant issues still. The iPhone SDK does not allow an application to update information in the background - e.g. the Auto-update functionality of WorldMate / WorldMate Live. It does not include a robust push mechanism yet, or allow us to build our own - enabling the pushed flight alerts, trip reminders and welcome messages which put the "Live" in WorldMate Live. And the iTunes App Store model is not a great match for our distribution philosophy.

So will iPhone users get WorldMate Live? Well, we'll do whatever we can. At the same time - if you want it on your iPhone, we should jointly petition Apple to enable us to do those things. I am thinking of putting up an online petition for Apple to open these APIs for us. If you're a supporter - comment here. I promise that if we get 10 people commenting, we'll post an online petition.

49 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'd love it on my iPhone, and would be happy to support the petition..

Unknown said...

I think worldmate live is a great application and I'd love to see it on iphone.

Gadster said...

I used to use Worldmate when it was a desktop tool with my Palm. I now have a iPod Touch and planning a big trip. It would be great to have this tool.

Anonymous said...

I would love worldmate on the iphone. The blackbery is a great device, but the iphone with 3g is more effective. The only reason I continue to bring my blackberry on trips is because of worldmate.

Wireless Woody said...

I used WorldMate Live on my BlackBerry all the time, now I hav gone to an iPhone - the only application I am missing is iWorldMate - Live. Please Please Please.

Anonymous said...

i love my iPhone and i love WorldMate Live
.. can't we just have WorldMate live as it is but with a web page formatted for the iPhone screen?

i really don't NEED to have it as a native app. but some way for me to check my itin would be fine...

Anonymous said...

The only way I will purchase an iPhone is when it can support WorldMate Live. I need a phone that will work with me not just entertain me.

Anonymous said...

I agree with benkhoo in that it does not need to be the same program as is used on other devices but a web page access with email alerts, etc. would be great. I don't use wml anymore since getting my iPhone and use different programs (free programs) on the web on my iPhone to access the same data. I would gladly pay the subscription again if wml was available on the iPhone.

Anonymous said...

I use Worldmate on my blackberry for every trip I take. I'd love to see it for my iPod touch as well.
It would be a great compliment to the service.

pedersen4412 said...

I think that worldmate live is a great application...we need it for iPhone.

jevm1960 said...

FerI am in the exact same situation as our anonymous friend who said: "I would love worldmate on the iphone. The blackbery is a great device, but the iphone with 3g is more effective. The only reason I continue to bring my blackberry on trips is because of worldmate." I would love to have the WorldMate on my iphone.

Anonymous said...

i just got an iphone and can't believe i will be losing worldmate live!!! devastating. please please fix this!

Anonymous said...

I moved from BlackBerry to my iPhone and I love the iPhone - best device on the market.

But I miss Worldmate!!

I was a gold member and I would subscribe again....

Anonymous said...

read your musings...'heads and sand' came to mind, maybe next year when there are 40 mil devices around the world you'll abandon your prejudices and jump on board...will be the longest flight delay ever!

Nadav Gur said...

Wow, you're sore. Please do note that we said "we'll do whatever we can". Wouldn't you like to have all these capabilities that Apple is blocking now - pushed alerts, calendar synchronization etc.?

Anonymous said...

You must, must, must work this out between WorldMate and Apple.
I was a BlackBerry man all the way, but my workplace went to iPhone and I love it. It's the best device yet.
However, the iPhone travel apps are nothing compared to WorldMate. Please do whatever is necessary to get it on iPhone.

Anonymous said...

Am about to get an iphone, as my Treo is dying and iphones synch so much easier with Macs, so count me in on the petition as World Mate is the best program on my soon-to-be-ex smartphone.

Anonymous said...

Please count me in also. I contacted Worldmate and they were willing to credit my account what I will lose when the iphone version debuts. However, when I asked about when it will, they gave me a "we cannot confirm nor deny" response to my question.

anjum said...

I think world mate live is probably the best software in its class and also being an iphone fan it is a shame that I can not get this application on my iPhone

Anonymous said...

Please!!!!! Make it happen.

Unknown said...

You have to start with a few steps. WML also evolved on the BB platform. Utilze the current iPhone APIs and grow the product with time. Not releasing a product will drive loyal users to seach for an alternative.

Anonymous said...

You want to learn all there is about travel and you wish you could go to just one place instead of having to search all over for it. Well, what do you know?! Your wish just came true!

Anonymous said...

As a gold subscriber to worldmate, I really need the app to go on the iphone. We have change off Blackberry to iPhone so now my Wmate subscription is a waste of time.

Anonymous said...

I would love Worldmate for my touch. I had it on my old palm and I'm missing it on the touch. I wouldnt necessarily need push and don't mind updating myself as that is what i did on the palm anyway. But having all the travelinfo in one place is worth so much and not spread out on different apps that don't even do that one task very well. Worldmate on iPhone/iPod touch NOW!

SnowBaked said...

I previously subscribed to worldmate, and it is the only thing I miss about having an iphone!!
Please please make it happen!!

Anonymous said...

Count me in too. I keep checking back to see if an iPhone app or iPhone website is available for my WM Live account. I understand that not all functions might be available but think this would be a valuable addition.

Unknown said...

I purchased Worldmate & Datemate in 2003 for my Sony clie. I still have the clie and reference my Datemate. I now have a iPhone 3G and am begging you to develop with Apple so I can once again use your apps on a daily basis...please!?!

Anonymous said...

I currently have a gold account and now have a iphone and I will be hpaay to suppor this petition. Please let all know how we may support this effort to bring this to the forfrunt for the iphone. If hte iPhone wishes to try and take on the business world then they need to support this wonderful app.

Anonymous said...

I think we should keep the same view, and then in our understanding of this point, and then deeper thinking!

Anonymous said...

I'm going nuts waiting for an iPhone version. I switched from BlackBerry, and not having WM is killing me. I'd even be happy if it only updated when I opened the application and could live without the pushed notices. I just want to be able to email my itineraries to WM and be able to view them and have them update when the app is open. Please, please, please...

Anonymous said...

I'm used of Worldmate live I had a HTC and now I have a iPhone. I missed a lot Worlmate who is the most important program for a traveler. I wish that Apple will allowed worlmade to create their program for the iphone.

Unknown said...

Any news about it? I have to use my blackberry in order to be able to use Worldmate live. Two mobile phones is too much!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Um ... 32 comments later and I can't see the link to the promised petition.
Nadav -- perhaps you should put aside your animus towards the iPhone, and realise that this is something your customers WANT, and who will PAY YOU for it ...
I am moving to iPhone from a WM Treo in March, and am devastated by the loss of this app.

Anonymous said...

Worldmate Live for me is essential on the iPhone. I travel a lot and need a deveice which can work for me and take care of my on the move needs. The iPhone is good - but it sadly misses the compatability with essential applications for business users. If Apple can get their heads around this issue, the iPhone would become a great business and personal tool.

Anonymous said...

blackberry is now on the 3G ban wagon get use to it iphone lovers you want true push rim rules iphone will never be able to work as robust as a blackberry. i also own a iphone its a great phone but its still a kid maybe some years it will learn to grow up with some experience. cheers.

Unknown said...

Worldmate and iPhone, two of the most essential things for the frequent traveler

Anonymous said...

Worldmate is truly the only thing that I miss in the transition from the BB to Iphone.

vwsmaltz said...

I loved Worldmate on my Blackberry - but I love my iPhone - I was a gold member and would subscribe again in a heartbeat.....

Brian said...

Let's really stick it to Apple and MAKE them allow you to do these things -- create an application that can be used by jailbroken iphones. And charge for it. Eventually Apple will lift these restrictions and in the meantime you'll make a ton towards development by selling WorldMate Live software on Cydia. I'll buy it. I really miss my WorldMate!

ScottZ said...

OK, 3.0 now supports background notification.

Now can I haz WorldMate on my iPhone?

Nadav Gur said...

Yes you can... More info soon.

Gautam Desai said...

Now that is welcome news! It's one of the few things holding me back from moving over...

Anonymous said...

I Was looking forward to this sooo much, loved WM on Palm, loved it on Windows Mobile, love it on my BB. But I was really missing it on my iPhone. It would be great if it could have the same extensive options like you used to offer on the Palm (Clothes conversions, tips, taxes, Country codes, etc.) not the watered down version as in Windows Mobile.

By the way, even though the WorldMate Max videos show how to find a restaurant, I can't find it in the real app...

Anonymous said...

Any idea how soon a WMLive iphone edition will release after the 3.0 firmware releases?

Anonymous said...

I am considering purchasing an iPhone, but not having the WML application will certainly make we think twice. This is a must for the amount of travel I do.

Brian said...

Honestly, between the earliest comments about Nadav Gur stating that the iPhone would never take off for business applications (seriously?) to the extremely slow, somewhat pathetic development efforts (which could have been done in no time without restrictions if done outside of app store by distributing via Cydia to jailbroken phones) I've given up on what I really felt was a fantastic product. Thankfully, I've found tripit which I've found that I actually prefer! I just email my reservations to their import email address and it's handled nearly identically to WML's method, although I've actually had better luck with Tripit. Add your personal tripit ical address to your gcal or outlook and you've eliminated your need for WML, at least the features I used most often.

WML is a great product; however, I'll never look back - tripit exceeds my needs and the needs of most business travelers... and there's no waiting involved!

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