Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
How does it work?
Port has a network of Remote Guides around the globe.
How can I become a Remote Guide?
Happy to hear you are considering to become a Remote Guide! Please sign up in the application below.
Can I pay with credit card?
Yes, you can pay with credit card
Will I get motion sickness?
We have done many pilots and got no complaints of motion sickness. Our Remote Guides are trained to be cautious in their filming and will try to film as smooth and as pleasantly as possible. Some of our Remote Guides will be using a mobile stabilizer as well to increase the smoothness of the video.
Is Remote the same as Virtual?
No, remote is not the same as virtual. Although the industry is young and terms are being used interchangeably. For some people, any type of experience through your screens is considered "virtual". However, virtual implies that it is a simulated environment, while remote is real. Just like remote work is not called virtual work: it's actual work, not a simulation.
Where can I find the photos that I have taken during the Event/Tour?
If you have taken photos during the session or if the guide takes or shares a photo, these photos will appear in your Photo Gallery inside your account.
Can the Remote Guides buy things for me?
Currently it not possible yet for the Remote Guide to buy things for you. But this feature is in the planning.
What is the difference between Remote Event and Remote Travel?
Port gives you the experience of being at a place through live, interactive video calls.
Questions for Remote Events
Can the guide help with translations?
Guides will be bilingual with the local language and English. Guides in Seoul can speak Korean and guides in Taiwan can speak Mandarin Chinese. Guides can help with basic translations and communications. For example, they can help facilitate a conversation between you and an exhibitor, or can help read signs and brochures.
Note that guides are not professional interpreters and should not be considered as such.
How do I book multiple hours per session?
The easiest way is to make multiple bookings of hours that follow each other. If you have any custom requests regarding making multiple bookings or a special occasion, please email us at support@theportapp.com.
Can I invite colleagues or friends?
Absolutely! Per session you can invite up to 4 others to join you. After booking you will receive a video link. You can forward the video link to them and they can join.
How do I control where the guide goes?
The guide is at the event on your behalf and will follow your directions. You can talk to the guide and tell where to go and what to do.
Additionally, you can also use the remote camera controller function to control the camera direction in real-time
What if the event has an entrance fee?
If an event has an entrance fee, then depending on the event, it might be added onto the guide's fee. For some events the entrance fee is included in the guide's fee. Whether there is additional entrance fee will be stated in the booking details.
Will my conversations be privacy protected?
All guides have a non disclosure agreement for all sessions that they do, so you are legally protected to have your conversations be kept confidential.
How much does it cost to book a guide?
Guides have a flat fee of USD 59 per 60-minute session. Travel time towards the event is not counted, so you have a full hour on the expo floor with the guide.
How do I exchange business cards remotely?
Using the remote camera feature you can ask the guide to look at a business card and you can take a photo of the business card. Photos will be saved in your Photo Album.
Can I tell the guide beforehand about our company?
Yes. Your session will be more productive if the guide already knows upfront how to introduce your company and what you are looking for. In the booking process you can write information about your company and what your objectives are. This information will be relayed to the guide.
Is the travel time of the guide included?
The travel time is included in the fee and not included in the hourly session. That means when you book an hour at the event, the guide will start inside at the event and you have a full hour to walk around.
How do I connect with the guide at the starting time?
After your booking is completed, you will receive a video link through email. At the time of start, just call in and the guide will be at the event waiting for you to start.
Can I get a recording of the session?
Right now we do not offer video recordings yet. We do have a photo feature so you can take photos remotely using the guide's phone camera. If you have a special request regarding video recordings, please reach out to support@theportapp.com.
What things can I ask the guide to help with?
You can ask the guide to do all normal actions and interactions like walking, basic translations, talking, reading, using and interacting with the environment, pick up things, etc. See the video for an example.
How do I attend an offline event if I stay at home?
Our Remote Guides are at the destination (currently available in Seoul and Taipei) and can attend events and venues on your behalf through a live video call. You can then command and give the guide directions of where to go and what to do. Guides can help you interact with people and the environment. In this way, you can attend an event while staying at home.
I want to attend an event or venue that is not listed
No problem! Remote Guides can help with more specific places too. For example if you need to view an apartment or hotel before booking it, or any other places.
Questions for Remote Tours
What is a Remote Tour Guide?
A Remote Tour Guide is a local person who lives at the location that you have chosen to travel to. This person will walk around with you (and your friends) and guide you through the local places.
What if it's raining?
Just like normal travel, rain can happen during the trip. When it is raining, the Remote Tour Guide will perhaps adjust the trip to make it more fun or just carry an umbrella!
Which cities are available to remote travel to?
Right now, we have Tokyo, Amsterdam, Taipei etc. more than 10 cities around the world. You can see all the cities here. We will be expanding to more cities very soon. Keep an eye on the site for new city updates.
Why should I do remote traveling?
Port Remote Tour is for everyone who is curious about the world they live in and likes to travel and explore more.