AAA Helps More Motorists Compare Gas Prices with Launch of TripTik Mobile app for Android

With the summer driving season approaching and gas prices near $4 per gallon, AAA expands mobile offerings to help plan road trips and compare costs

ORLANDO, Fla., May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In just a few weeks millions of Americans will kick off the summer driving season with a Memorial Day getaway. With the current national average price for a gallon of regular, unleaded gasoline at $3.95, $1.04 more than last year, many travelers are concerned about how fuel prices will impact their budget. Those with an Android-compatible smart phone can save time comparing costs with the launch of an Android version of the AAA TripTik^® Mobile application. The app, previously available for iPhone, also provides directions and information on restaurants, hotels and attractions.

AAA TripTik Mobile is a GPS-based app with maps showing gas station locations and other points of interest, such as hotels, restaurants and attractions, near a user's location or any user-specified location. Gas station details include updated prices for all available grades of gasoline. Preference settings allow users to show prices for just their preferred grade and sort stations alphabetically or by distance.  AAA membership is not required for the app, which is available for download at the Android Market.

AAA's Memorial Day Forecast, which will be released in mid-May, will provide insight on how fuel prices will impact summer driving trends; however some travelers may offset expensive fuel costs by traveling a shorter distance, decreasing the duration of their trips or reducing spending in other areas of their travel budget.  The free app, as well as AAA's TripTik Travel Planner (available free at AAA.com) assists users in planning a summer getaway within their budget. These travel planning tools search and display gas prices, hotels, restaurants and attractions along a route or specific address.

Hotel and restaurant information includes AAA's Diamond Ratings based on professional in-person inspections. There's also an option to call for lodging reservations with the touch of a button.  The AAA TripTik Mobile app also provides maps and turn-by-turn directions to other points of interest including local events, AAA offices and Approved Auto Repair facilities, as well as user-entered addresses. The app can recalculate routes and provide voice guidance for the next maneuver.

AAA TripTik Mobile uses the latest mapping data from the navigation market leader NAVTEQ. Full functionality on iPod Touch and non-3G iPad devices requires uninterrupted Wi-Fi access.

AAA TripTik Mobile is the third free app offered by AAA for iPhone and Android users. The AAA Discounts app, with more than a million total downloads, also uses GPS technology to display nearby AAA Show Your Card & Save locations. AAA Roadside enables AAA members who require emergency road service to send their vehicle description and breakdown details directly to AAA. Additional information is provided on AAA.com/mobile.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 52 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

AAA news releases, high-resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at AAA.com/news.

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SOURCE AAA