Boston, MA (WiredPRNews.com) Are tour guides living on borrowed time? With an ever-increasing demand by end-users to have the freedom to travel at their convenience and have volumes of historical data at their finger tips, it seems only logical that the tourism industry turns digital. Travel apps are not new and neither are guided audio tours. Not until recently, however, have comprehensive, continuous live-audio tours been offered as an alternative for individuals to experience a city themselves. One audio tour production company from Boston, IWalked Audio Tours, seems to found themselves a niche via this model with the release of a new series of New York City based iphone applications.
The audio tours produced by IWalked seem to emulate having a personal tour guide. Each tour is recorded live for a complete ambient experience. From arrival at your initial subway station until your tour ends (1.5 to 3 hours later), listeners are guided step-by-step through city streets. Along the way, IWalked founder Scott Woznicki, explores the history, architecture, popular culture, crimes and haunts of city locales. “We try and find the inner geek in everyone,” specifies Mr. Woznicki. “What I really enjoy though is the ‘in-between’ sites. There’s a million apps of top tourist destinations but when I’m walking a route I want to know about the interesting stuff that I pass along the way too!”
Currently IWalked sports three New York City iphone applications. Each app, developed in partnership with MyTours, features full audio, photos/facts for each destination (and some in-between) and GPS-tracking to guide walkers along their path. The New York applications currently include Lower Manhattan, Upper West Side and a free bonus edition to the Upper West Side (available via the NYC Lite edition). In addition, IWalked has an extensive library of eight Boston-based tours including a Crimes and Haunts edition.
“This is one of our most popular tours. When Whitey Bulger was found and captured we saw a significant increase in downloads,” explains IWalked founder, Scott Woznicki.
Audio tours have become increasingly popular amongst travelers in recent years as a budget travel option. While guided tours traditionally run for an average price of $20, the IWalked apps are available via iTunes for $2. In addition to the iPhone, IWalked sells MP3 tours on their website at www.iwalkedaudiotours.com. Travelers can also have access to IWalked’s comprehensive travel blog which features hundreds of articles on popular destinations, restaurants and night spots.
Contact info:
IWalked Audio Tours Travel Blog & Website: http://www.iwalkedaudiotours.com
Email: [email protected]
