What else is going on in the world of travel tech? A round-up of other stories from across the industry...
- Masabi off to winning ways in North America, securing a contract to test its mobile ticketing service on New York's MTA Metro-North Railroad. The technology will allow passengers to use their mobiles to search and book electronic tickets for train services in the area, using iPhone, Blackberry or Android devices.
- Egencia has expanded its partnership network to include travel management companies in Russia, Ukraine, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Sri Lanka. The additions to the Egencia Global Alliance mean the Expedia-owned business travel specialist now has a presence in 54 countries.
- New design for tour and activity specialist Viator, using what the company says is "direct messaging" designed to bring visitors closer to its range of products and services. Expert and first-hand reviews and photos of over 325,000 items are given stronger prominence as well as videos and content for around 4,000 attractions and destinations.
- Treovi officially opens its doors this week. With a bold promise of a 100% free reservation for both hoteliers and consumers, the Switzerland-based startup is inviting property owners to list their inventory and availability. [NB: TLabs Showcase - Treovi]
- Travel community Tripwolf celebrates its fourth birthday by launching a trip planner feature for its mobile apps. Running on both iPhone and Android services, users will be able to drag and drop items such as sights, restaurants, hotels and bars into an itinerary, details of which will be displayed on a map. The tool works alongside existing features such as maps (on and offline), augmented reality viewer and browsing travel content.