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In August 2009, Air Canada announced that the project had been suspended.<ref>"Air Canada suspends implementation of next-gen Polaris reservations system." ATW Daily News, Aug 12, 2009. http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=17518</ref>
In August 2009, Air Canada announced that the project had been suspended.<ref>"Air Canada suspends implementation of next-gen Polaris reservations system." ATW Daily News, Aug 12, 2009. http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=17518</ref>


In July 2010, [[Google]] announced the acquisition of ITA for $700 million in cash.<ref>{{cite web
In July 2010, [[Google]] announced the acquisition of ITA for $700 million in cash, subject to DOJ review and approval.<ref>{{cite web
| date=Jul 1, 2010
| date=Jul 1, 2010
| url=http://www.google.com/press/ita/
| url=http://www.google.com/press/ita/

Revision as of 14:59, 21 March 2011

ITA Software
Company typePrivate company
IndustrySoftware, Travel
Founded1996
HeadquartersCambridge, Massachusetts
Key people
Jeremy Wertheimer: President & CEO, Gianni Marostica: Chief Commercial Officer, Milt Alpern: Chief Financial Officer, Sundar Narasimhan: Chief Technology Officer
ProductsSoftware
OwnerGoogle, Inc (Acquisition pending, 2010)
Number of employees
450+
Websitewww.itasoftware.com

ITA Software is a travel industry software company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company was founded by computer scientists from the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in 1996. On July 1, 2010 ITA agreed to be acquired by Google. As of March 21, 2011 the acquisition is under review by the U.S. Department of Justice.

History

ITA's first product was an airfare search and pricing system called QPX. This system is now used by travel companies such as Orbitz, Bing Travel, Kayak.com, CheapTickets, and airlines such as American, United, US Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Alitalia, and ANA. ITA also hosts its own website based on QPX, although you cannot buy tickets from it.

ITA is known for using programming puzzles to attract and evaluate potential employees since 2001. Some of these puzzles have appeared in ads on Boston's MBTA subway system.

In January 2006, ITA received $100 million in venture capital money from a syndicate of 5 investment firms led by Battery Ventures, marking the largest investment in a software firm in New England in 5 years.[1]

In September 2006, ITA announced a several million dollar deal with Air Canada[2] to develop a new computer reservations system to power its reservations, inventory control, seat availability, check-in, and airport operations.[3] In August 2009, Air Canada announced that the project had been suspended.[4]

In July 2010, Google announced the acquisition of ITA for $700 million in cash, subject to DOJ review and approval.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Howe, Peter (2006-01-23). "Software firm gets $100m in backing". The Boston Globe.
  2. ^ "ITA Software signs deal with Air Canada". The Boston Globe. 2006-09-12.
  3. ^ General Catalyst Partners :: News
  4. ^ "Air Canada suspends implementation of next-gen Polaris reservations system." ATW Daily News, Aug 12, 2009. http://atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=17518
  5. ^ "Facts about Google's acquisition of ITA Software". Google.com. Jul 1, 2010.


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