Travelport GDS Accelerates Development of Comprehensive, Integrated Agent Desktop...

Travelport GDS Accelerates Development of Comprehensive, Integrated Agent
Desktop Solution
- Acquires Software Assets and Intellectual Property from G2 SwitchWorks Corp.
-

LANGLEY, UK, April 4, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelport GDS today announced
that it has entered into an agreement with G2 SwitchWorks Corp. under which it
has acquired certain software assets and intellectual property to be used in
the development of a future Travelport agent desktop solution. The agreement
includes G2 SwitchWorks' Kestrel(1) point-of-sale application, the G2 web
service core and a number of associated software development tools. Specific
terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"With today's announcement, Travelport has taken another significant step
towards the creation of the industry's first comprehensive, fully-integrated
agency desktop," said Gordon Wilson, president and chief executive officer,
Travelport GDS. "Our customers require the seamless integration of selling
and merchandising programmes, improved workflow, process automation and
content aggregation. Integrating the G2 technology into our existing plans
will accelerate Travelport's delivery of what we believe will be an industry
leading capability.
"Additional value-added services, such as comprehensive traveller
profiling and expanded agency search and customer service options, will
combine to create a compelling proposition that suits the way today's agents
want to sell."
Travelport intends to utilize Kestrel, the G2 web service core, and
associated tools as key elements in the development of a new unified, travel
agent desktop solution, expected to be released in early 2009. This new
Travelport solution will incorporate, build upon and ultimately replace the
company's current agent point of sale products -- FocalPoint/ViewPoint from
Galileo and Go! from Worldspan.
Travelport also intends to expose these new capabilities via its messaging
platforms to enable development partners to gain access to the new
functionality that this acquisition is expected to provide. The addition of
this capability to Travelport's Web Services platform is expected to enable
partners to reduce their development and operation costs.
Developed over the past year by G2 SwitchWorks, Kestrel provides a
"point-and-click" point-of-sale solution that enables agents to search for and
book travel content across multiple sources including the Global Distribution
Systems (GDSs). It also includes the ability for agents to manage data-rich
traveler profiles outside the GDS, enabling precise targeting of
customer-specific offers, upgrades and incentives. Travel bookings are stored
in a GDS-sensitive Universal Record Database, which provides enhanced
functionality in the agent desktop resulting in significant productivity gains
independent of the GDS to which the agent subscribes.
About Travelport GDS
Travelport GDS is one of the world's largest global distribution system
(GDS) providers operating both the Galileo and the Worldspan brands, providing
real-time travel information and booking capabilities to online and offline
travel agencies in over 145 countries. It also operates Business Intelligence,
which provides data and critical analysis to the industry, and includes its
Shepherd Systems subsidiary; and IT Services & Software, which offers mission
critical reservations, related software and services management to the world's
leading airlines. Travelport GDS is a convergence of traditional and online
travel distribution services that empower airlines, travel suppliers, travel
agencies, Web sites and corporations to provide informed choice to travelers
on a global platform. Travelport GDS is a division of Travelport, one of the
world's largest service providers to the travel industry. More information is
available at www.travelportgds.com.
About Travelport
Travelport is one of the world's largest travel conglomerates. The company
operates three primary businesses -- Travelport GDS, a global distribution
system business; an IT Services and Software business; and GTA, a group travel
and wholesale hotel business. Travelport GDS comprises the Galileo and
Worldspan brands and includes Business Intelligence, a data analysis business.
The IT Services and Software business hosts mission critical applications and
provides business solutions for major airlines. Travelport also owns
approximately 48% of Orbitz Worldwide (NYSE: OWW), a leading global online
travel company. With on-going annual revenues of approximately $2.8 billion,
Travelport operates in 145 countries and has approximately 6,000 employees.
Travelport is a private company owned by The Blackstone Group, One Equity
Partners, Technology Crossover Ventures and Travelport management.
(1) "Kestrel" is G2 SwitchWorks' internal name for a next-generation point
of sale application framework.
SOURCE Travelport

Jill Brenner of Travelport GDS, +1-973-939-1325, jill.brenner@travelport.com