Marriott International and Starwood Hotels & Resorts are launching new and enhanced mobile apps that allow for bookings of corporate negotiated rates

. Starwood's BlackBerry application already offers such functionality, as does an iPhone app introduced in July 2009. The latter is due to be replaced this month with an enhanced version including a new homepage design, improved searching, access to special offers and promotions and use of the phone's geographical locater to suggest nearby hotels. Marriott launched a BlackBerry mobile application last month, and plans to create one on the iPhone platform this year; both would be capable of booking corporate rates using a rate access code, according to a spokesman.