Three out of ten cell phones in use in the U.S. are now smart phones with Internet connectivity, and nearly two in ten travelers have downloaded a travel-related app.

The agreement will offer preferred pricing and services for telecommunication standards and requirements to the owners of IHG properties.

For phone terminal and phone system suppliers, demand from the hotel industry for options varies greatly. Vendors must offer several different models of phones, each targeted toward a different chain scale segment.

Defero3 says Pinnacle's experience in the hospitality industry and its reach throughout the U.S. will make Pinnacle a valuable addition to Defero3's dealer network.

VTech Hotel Phones will be available in both Classic and Contemporary designs, featuring enhanced voice and audio electronics that are easy to use.

Although TeleMatrix purchased Teledex in December, Teledex product lines will be continued, the company said.

Telematrix, Teledex and Scitec--once the top three guestroom telephone system companies--have now consolidated into one company.

PhoneSuite and participating authorized PhoneSuite resellers have set up a $1-million fund to reward hoteliers with a rebate check for replacing their aging, environmentally unfriendly phone systems.

International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show product preview, including the latest products from Cintas, Applied Media Technologies, PhoneSuite, Pellerin Milnor, Panasonic Communications, Philips and Dometic.

Many mainstay technology vendors introduced new extensions to their products at HITEC 2009.