AAA is enhancing its mobile offerings by letting consumers request roadside assistance and check pricing details via an Android application.

The application uses the phone’s GPS to transmit a user’s location directly to AAA roadside assistance. The AAA Roadside application is available in the Android Marketplace for free download.

“AAA continues develop new mobile products and offerings to address its members needs through a variety of channels,” Christie Hyde, spokeswoman at AAA, Heathrow, FL. “AAA recognizes the importance of the Android market and the large number of members who use Android phones.”

AAA provides more than 51 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services.

Mobile assistance
The application features a battery quote calculator that instantly provides AAA member pricing on replacement batteries offered through AAA’s mobile battery service.

When consumers enter the vehicle’s year, make, model and engine size they receive battery pricing and can choose to have their battery replace by one of AAA’s roadside problem-solvers.

If consumers use the feature, the pricing and part number are submitted automatically with their request for AAA roadside assistance.

“We are getting the word out through social media campaigns, including Twitter and Facebook,” Ms. Hyde said. “Information on all of the free apps that AAA offers is also posted on AAA’s travel blog, AAATravelViews.com, and are promoted through member publications and AAA’s TourBook travel guides.”

AAA members can get roadside assistance

Register me
AAA members can register up to eight vehicles to their app profile and the application lets users locate a nearby AAA-approved auto repair facility.

“For more than a century, AAA’s products and offerings have evolved to best meet its members needs,” Ms. Hyde said. “Mobile products are one of the latest ways AAA is addressing the needs of its members and providing a wider variety of ways for them to request services, obtain information and reap the maximum benefits of their AAA membership.

“We have more apps in the works,” she said. “In addition to AAA Roadside, we now offer the AAA Discounts app for Android devices and look forward to offering more on the Android platform.

“AAA Mobile Web – available with any smartphone at AAA.mobi – offers the ability to request AAA Roadside Assistance and receive quotes on replacement batteries for your vehicle which AAA will install for free on location.”

Final Take
Rimma Kats is editorial assistant on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York