ITA Software
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel software |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Jeremy Wertheimer, Richard Aiken |
| Fate | Acquired by Google |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, Massachusetts , United States |
| Parent |
ITA Software operates as a division within Google focusing on travel-related software, having previously existed as an independent firm headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1996 by Jeremy Wertheimer, a computer scientist affiliated with the MIT AI Laboratory, alongside Richard Aiken, ITA was purchased by Google on July 1, 2010. The acquisition was authorized by the US Department of Justice on April 8, 2011, with Google committing to license ITA’s software to other platforms for a duration of five years.
History
The core product developed by ITA, known as QPX, serves as an airfare search and pricing platform utilized by travel service providers including Bing Travel, CheapTickets, Kayak.com, and Orbitz, in addition to airlines such as Alitalia, American, ANA, Cape Air, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways, and Virgin Atlantic. ITA also manages "Matrix," an airfare search engine built upon QPX technology, though it does not facilitate direct ticket sales.
Since 2001, ITA has employed programming challenges as a recruitment tool, gaining recognition through advertisements displayed on Boston’s MBTA subway system. The company is distinguished for developing its software primarily using the Common Lisp programming language.
In January 2006, ITA raised $100 million in venture capital funding led by a group including Battery Ventures, representing the largest software investment in New England over the previous five years. Later that year, ITA entered into a substantial contract with Air Canada to create a new computer reservations system encompassing functions such as reservations management, inventory control, seat availability, check-in processes, and airport operations. Nevertheless, Air Canada halted this initiative in August 2009.
Google declared its intention to acquire ITA for $700 million in cash in July 2010, pending regulatory consent. After receiving approval from the Department of Justice in April 2011, the transaction was completed.
In March 2012, Cape Air transitioned to ITA Software's passenger service system (PSS); however, Google ceased offering its PSS product by 2013. That same year, Google launched QPX Express—a streamlined API version of QPX—which was eventually discontinued on April 10, 2018.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1996 establishments in Massachusetts
- Software companies based in Massachusetts
- Travel and holiday companies of the United States
- Airline tickets
- Business software companies
- Travel technology
- Common Lisp (programming language) software
- Companies based in Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Google acquisitions
- American companies established in 1996
- Hospitality companies established in 1996
- Software companies established in 1996
- 2011 mergers and acquisitions
- Software companies of the United States