DOCOMO interTouch to unveil Mobile Phone Control Prototype for Hotels

DOCOMO interTouch is to unveil its latest innovative breakthrough - hYspace - at the upcoming global hospitality exhibition Equip’Hotel in Paris. hYspace is a software prototype that is set to enable hotel guests in future to use their mobile touch screen phones to perform multiple functions including controlling the room lighting, temperature and television channels.

hYspace, the working title for the software prototype and not the final name for the product, has been developed with the objective of becoming the ultimate convergence solution for hotels by serving as the centralised management system of all devices and applications in the hotel, helping to enhance security measures and seamlessly integrating various hotel technologies. Other potential functions include performing instant room status updates, facilitating room service and porter requests.

“We are pleased to be the first in the hotel technology industry to explore extending the functionality of a mobile touch screen phone to serve not only the complete needs of guests but hotels as well in their operations,” said DOCOMO interTouch’s CEO Charles Reed. “This is a promising start for hotels to enjoy maximum efficiency and convenience, and to do away with multiple gadgets in the hotel room by combining their capabilities into a single, sleek mobile device. hYspace allows consumers who increasingly demand mobility to be fully mobile.”

Besides potentially serving as a central control device for the room lighting, temperature, television channels, DOCOMO interTouch also aims to develop hYspace to serve as a electronic concierge, support multimedia (instant music and video streaming), gaming, messaging and even advertisements.

“We aim to create an entirely scalable solution. For the hotel of the future, our hYspace software will greatly enhance the experience of their guests, especially business travellers who value efficiency and speed,” added Reed. “This prototype presents endless possibilities for what a mobile touch screen phone can do for hotel guests and hotel staff, and we will continue to refine our R&D efforts to make hYspace a reality in the near future.”

In addition to hYspace, DOCOMO interTouch will also unveil its first-ever joint project with its parent company NTT DOCOMO at the Equip’Hotel exhibition in Paris - a SmartPhone video chat service using Wi-Fi for hotel guests. With more and more travellers using smart phones, this service could greatly enhance hotel guests’ experience as it allows them to make video chat calls by paying only an Internet access fee. More details of the service will be shared at the exhibition.

Equip’Hotel will take place 15-19 November at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, Halls 2, 3, 4, 7.1 and 7.2.

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