Article posted on August 20, 2012
Tablet-PCs, particularly Apple‘s iPadTM, have tremendously changed our lifestyle in the past 2 years. And all tablet based applications have improved handling, visualization and the overall user experience.The hotel sector is one of the industries that has seen quite some changes thanks to the so-called ‚post PC area‘. The information folder in hotel rooms (from A …like ATM to Z … like Zoo) is nowadays provided on iPadTM’s in some cases – clearly structured for the guest, easy to update for the hotel operator. Someplace else the guest can process room service or wake-up calls on the tablet or simply reserve SPA treatments. In addition to this all room control options can be accomplished on the iPadTM – light control, heating and cooling or any form of music and media streaming. The iPadTM becomes the personal concierge, 24 hours a day, 7 hours a week.
One of the biggest challenges in implementing solutions like this is the public accessibility of the tablet PC, and with it, the risk of theft.The number of wall-mounts and docking stations is almost endless – but none of the available solutions offers full theft protection as well as accessibility to the iPadTM as a mobile device –for example to be used during a city tour - when authorized by the receptionist. The Austrian based company iRoom has developed a product range specifically for the use in public environments. Thanks to an external contact and relays the receptionist can unlock the iPadTM and also control if the tablet is returned into the docking device when the guest is about to check out. In addition to this iRoom offers docking solutions with integrated code-modules or RFID based opening systems – called iRoom iDock Touchcode and iRoom iDock Keycard. All iRoom’s products impress through their nice design as well as through the continuous power supply and audio outputs.
The iPadTM is about to become the mobile Concierge in state-of-the art hotels, thanks to iRoom hotel operators can now integrate these solutions carelessly.
