Very interesting stuff in a blog from Andrew Silverman (10/26/2010) Senior Product Manager at Google and an interesting article in response on a WSJ blog. (I couldn't find this posted anywhere on Flyertalk yet.) Provides some insight into the relationships of the major players in the airfare sales and technology fields.
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2010/10/...titor-attacks/
It starts off this way:
Google responded to an effort by players in the online travel industry to oppose its acquisition of airfare search provider ITA Software. The Internet giant rejected their arguments that the deal would reduce competition and innovation in the market.
See also:
http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.c...competing.html
An excerpt:
We’ve been encouraged by the travel industry support we’ve seen for this acquisition -- from airlines, online travel agencies, and also ITA’s competitors. Even longtime travel guru Arthur Frommer has weighed in. That said, it’s disappointing that a number of travel companies have today announced their concerns about the deal.
Our reason for making this acquisition is simple: ITA will help us provide better results for our users. When someone searches for “flights from San Francisco to London,” we'd like to provide not just “ten blue links” but exact flight times and prices as well -- just as our competitors do today.