I remember a few many years ago hearing rumors that Microsoft was poised to buy the Kayak travel-search service. Instead, Microsoft ended up purchasing Farecast, that is now Bing Travel. Shortly thereafter, Microsoft and Kayak tussled more than Kayak statements that Bing was copying Kayak.
Cut to 2011. It seems to be such as the previous travel-search adversaries have put their variations aside. On March 4,
Office 2007 Enterprise, Microsoft announced it had formed a partnership with Kayak to include Kayak travel-search services inside Bing Travel,
Office 2010 Download, starting with flight search inside the U.S.
When I asked regarding the particulars with the offer, I used to be told by a Microsoft spokesperson that “We are not at liberty to discuss the terms with the partnership.” I was directed to take my questions to Kayak. Here are my questions and answers from Robert Birge,
Microsoft Office 2007 Product Key, Kayak Chief Marketing Officer:
Q: Is this an exclusive partnership? Can Kayak also do deals with other journey search comapanies if they want?
A: Details with the partnership are not disclosed.
Q: Did MS pay Kayak for this partnership? If so,
Microsoft Office Professional 2007, how much?
A: Microsoft does not disclose financial information.
Q: Why would anyone go to Kayak now for travel search, instead of simply using Bing Travel? Are there some things Kayak is still providing on its site that you can’t get via Bing?
A: Both Kayak and Bing offer completely different user interfaces and different user experiences. Kayak is on the forefront of journey search – and not just flight lookup. Kayak creates smart technology that allows travellers to find and book journey from hundreds of journey sites at once for flights,
Microsoft Office 2007 Key, hotels, car and cruise journey. Additionally, Kayak offers advanced journey planning, booking and management features, which offer users a comprehensive, accurate and flexible solution to travel.
Kayak.com also hosts a number of additional useful features, (including) a baggage fee calculator; the ‘Explore’ feature helps you find places to go on a map based on budget, time of journey, and the kind of trip, e.g. “I have $500 and I want to go someplace sunny in April”; and the My Trips itinerary management tool, which consolidates different travel plans into one simple itinerary that you can easily print, share, and integrate into your calendars and smartphone.
Q: Both Microsoft and Kayak are fighting Google’s attempt to purchase ITA. Is there any connection between your joint opposition to Google’s ITA acquisition and your decision to ally yourselves with Microsoft?
A: The simple answer is no, there is no connection. Kayak is working with Bing to extend our companies to additional consumers. That relationship doesn’t impact the potential for Google to restrict access to ITA’s faring technology nor their ability to inappropriately leverage their general lookup monopoly to promote a competing journey search services.