Fort Worth, Texas—Travelocity.com (NASDAQ: TVLY), the leading travel Web site, today announced the launch of the first worldwide mobile flight booking tool, as well as a rebooking capability. These new tools are designed to provide on-the-go travelers with an innovative and convenient way to purchase airline tickets via Internet-enabled mobile phones and wireless hand-held devices.
Consumers now can access the wireless flight booking tool for more than 95 percent of all airline seats sold, and flight booking is available through Travelocity.com’s mobile commerce partners, including carriers AT&T Wireless Services, British Telecom, Nextel and Vodafone, and wireless hand-held devices from OmniSky and Palm.
The company also is introducing its flight rebooking tool through its mobile commerce partners. With the touch of a few buttons, a traveler who finds herself running early or late for a flight will be able to quickly rebook on a different flight.
“Analysts are predicting that the number of Internet-enabled mobile phones will grow 200% by 2003, demonstrating mobile commerce to be one the fastest growing service segments,” said Terrell B. Jones, president and chief executive officer of Travelocity.com. “Our goal is to provide consumers with the latest technology in the travel industry to enhance the way they shop for and buy travel. Our strategic wireless partnerships coupled with our vast database of travel information has made Travelocity.com a true pioneer in mobile commerce.”
Travelocity.com already offers numerous features in its vast mobile channel line-up. Currently, consumers can review existing flight itineraries, check flight status, review flight schedules for all major airlines and view the weather in all major U.S. cities.
Additionally, the company has been a pioneer in mobile technologies, dating back to 1997 when it launched Flight Paging. In December of 1998, Travelocity.com became a charter content partner for the Palm VII(tm) connected organizer, the first hand-held solution for out-of-the-box wireless communications and Internet access.
Beginning in 1999, Travelocity.com embarked on partnerships with worldwide mobile phone companies such as British Telecom and Vodafone. This year, the company extended its reach to provide travel services for AT&T Wireless Services and Nextel Internet-enabled mobile phones. Additionally, the company recently signed an agreement with wireless portal OmniSky to provide travel content for Palm V wireless devices.
“Our depth of experience in providing useful travel information along with our breadth of reach in this emerging industry is positioning Travelocity.com as the clear leader in wireless travel services,” added Jones. “Our mobile channel features are yet another way Travelocity.com is expanding our business model to enable our members to take full advantage of progressing technology.”
Travelocity.com’s mobile booking tool is already available on several of its mobile commerce partners, and the rebooking tool will be available by the end of October.
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