Mobile gadget rental service caters to travelers

If smartphones, tablets GPS devices and mobile broadband gadgets are built for people on the go, why not rent them to travelers? With this in mind, New York-based Flying Connected rents out iPads, MiFis, cell phones, SIM cards, laptops, notebooks and GPS gadgets to travelers. "We aim to be the next big thing in travel, with plans to extend our services and expand our locations, while you fly. We’ll soon be the next item on your travel checklist," it said in its website. The firm's staff will meet a customer at the airport to deliver the rented item, or bring the gadget to the hotel. Staff will also help a customer get familiar with the device, and hang around to answer questions. "We also partner with many hotels in New York City, offering you great deals like free rentals when you book certain rooms," it said. Flying Connected said it caters to customers in John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia Airports, and all New York City hotels. Tech site Mashable said Flying Connected launched in New York City last month, and offers rates depending on the renters’ choice of insurance package, accessories and pre-loaded media. It said the company’s most popular item, the iPad 2, can be rented for $18 to $28 per day. Mashable quoted founder Zalmy Raskin as saying travelers are targeted for two reasons, first of which is that traveling with mobile electronics that require a data plan, like a smartphone or an iPad when it’s not connected to the Internet, is a pain. “Even if you have it with you, there’s always the frustration of when you turn it on you can’t using without roaming charges. You’re on payphones. It’s frustrating," said Raskin. Mashable said Raskin has devised a plan that he hopes will help it keep up: Anyone who agrees to lend their device to the company for a period can keep a percentage from rentals and keep their device after the deal ends. — TJD, GMA News