New app lets phone replace hotel TV remote

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Updated: January 30, 2012 9:36AM

Starting Monday, travelers staying at about 2,000 hotels across the country now have the ability to channel surf using their smartphones instead of an old-fashioned remote control.

LodgeNet, the biggest provider of hotel-room television, has created a free app — the LodgeNet Mobile App — that turns iPhones, iPads and Androids into remote controls for free TV channels, pay-per-view movies and on-demand TV episodes at hotels.

Greg Marquez, 36, of Chicago, says he’ll use it because, “The remote — I can never keep track of. I’m always texting or Facebooking, so I always have my phone on me.”

LodgeNet also expects the free app to appeal to people who want to avoid handling a dirty remote.

The app will exclude adult offerings. People will have to use the regular TV remote for those.