Tiscali has announced
details of a partnership with T-Systems providing an innovative new
video-streaming technology service to TUI Travel.Customers of TUI Travel can now
experience the sights and sounds of a potential holiday destination with the new application called WiSH, a web in shops service, which enables video
streaming to the desktop.

TUI Travel decided that it would offer customers an in-store travel
experience like no other, enabling them to view holiday destinations before
choosing to proceed with their booking.  However, the project depended on
whether or not necessary bandwidth could be supplied.  TUI Travel turned to
T-Systems, the company’s long-standing communications provider, to explore
possibilities.

The specific requirement was the ability to deliver adequate bandwidth to
shops to support high quality multiple streams in each store. T-Systems
took on business broadband experts Tiscali Business Services for their
advice, expertise and support.

 

Dominic Taylor, Service Manager for T-Systems in the UK says: “This really
was a key strategic implementation for TUI Travel and the success of the
project would define whether WiSH should or could be considered for roll
out to other European countries.  Tiscali was involved from an early stage,
once it became clear that BT wasn’t flexible enough to provide a solution
to meet the requirements of the WiSH project.”

 

“It was evident that the minimum bandwidth requirements for WiSH in any
store would require a guaranteed downstream bandwidth - not just any
IPStream based DSL connection,” says Lance Spencer, Product and Marketing
Director for Tiscali Business Services.  “Tiscali Premium Voice Ready
Broadband supports this requirement and so we were very happy to get
involved.”

 

The initial rollout to over 600 Thomson / Lunn Poly stores was completed in
just four months and the roll out to 360 First Choice stores took less than
three months.

 

The new solution for TUI has enabled the company to extend the WiSH
application to all of its stores.  “This is a very important product for
the future strategy of TUI,” says Taylor. “As well as having WiSH, TUI
stores now have a much faster network in place which will enable them to
introduce other new and innovative applications.”

 

“T-Systems and Tiscali have demonstrated the collaborative approach that
TUI UK promotes with all its suppliers, supporting a service-led experience
that allows us to support current business strategies delivering increased
value to our customers and shareholders,” says Keith Newman, TUI Chief
Information Officer.  “In the last 18 months T-Systems has provided
leadership, flexibility and a highly collaborative approach in supporting
TUI Travel plc.  The network solution implemented has enabled TUI UK to
deliver an unrivalled and innovative media experience to our customers. 
T-Systems were highly responsive and supportive of the recent merger
activity between the tourism division of TUI AG and First Choice Holidays
PLC and quickly deployed the standard solution across the combined retail
estate, demonstrating the value of a strong local account team
relationship.” 
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