Android Mobile

BEST ANDROID APPS for TRAVEL from the Android Marketplace: The Android Market has an awesome selection of apps — and fewer restrictions on such a powerful platform mean that these apps can sometimes do things the iPhone and BlackBerry apps can’t.

Like HOCCER, which lets you easily transfer data between phones without any manual input. Sure, that sounds a lot like the popular Bump app for the iPhone, until you realize it also lets you share music. Here, I’ve picked out the ten Android apps every business person should have.

From an app that will find nearby taxis and book them instantly from your phone, to another that will compile your receipts into an expense report for you, these apps are essential for anyone traveling on business.

1. TripIt is an essential app for keeping your travel agenda organized. The best part: it does it all for you, without any manual input.

You simply email your travel confirmation emails to the designated address, and the program puts everything in order. You can then access your itinerary from anywhere.

Price: Free

2. Talk to Me is an impressive (Mashable even referred to it as “mind-blowing”) translator that also does direct speech-to-speech translations.

The language selection for the voice translator is limited mainly to Romance languages (like French and Spanish) right now, but the text translator has over 45 languages to choose from.

Price: Free

3. Hoccer is similar to the “Bump” app, but it’s more useful when you want to share information with more than one person, as you might at a conference or a big meeting.

And it’s kind of fun, too — you swap information by holding your phone and flicking your wrist like you’re throwing a Frisbee. Your intended recipients just need to swing their phones in a small catching motion, and voila! Your data has been transferred.

You can share contact info, text, images, and even music.

Price: Free

4. ALOQA (a quirky name we assume is derived from the app’s motto, “Always be a local”) is a handy tool for anyone who finds themselves in a new place and in search of a restaurant, store, or something fun to do.

Based on your location, the app pushes various nearby points of interest to your phone, ranging from wi-fi hotspots, to cool events, to any social network contacts who might also be in the area.

You can customize your “channels” so that the app only shows you the types of places you want to see.

Price: Free

5. Hotels Near Me would be a handy app if you’re ever in need of a last-minute place to stay.

Boasting more than 70,000 hotels in 71 different countries, the app lets you check out lodgings based on your current GPS location, or you can choose a different area. Explore reviews, photos, and availability, and then make a reservation with no fee.

Price: Free