Check In Out

On the surface, this sounds like a good idea:

Marriott is...testing a system that lets you check in on the way to the hotel using your Windows Mobile smartphone.

Users have to download mobility software from Marriott which then lets them use their device to check in, change their room if they want, confirm their rates and receive welcome information. When they arrive at the hotel, an automated dispenser is waiting to spit out their keys and they are in business. The software even remembers the data that has been entered, so you don't have to start from scratch if your signal is interrupted.

Marriott is currently testing this system at just one hotel. By pure coincidence, the test of a system relying on Windows Mobile is happening in Redmond, Washington.

Like most things involving mobile phones, I expect this will function nightmarishly, if at all. And hopefully people won't try to do this while they are driving to the hotel.