American Express Business Travel today launched a mobile travel solution based on a blend of proprietary and third-party technology that officials said would allow travelers to manage itineraries and reservations through mobile devices, regardless of the booking channel they use.
The tool, dubbed MobileXtend, is powered by technology developed by American Express that enables the transmission of travel reservation information to the traveler's mobile device, whether the booking was made online or offline and through any online booking tool and in any global distribution system.
"We have invested in creating this proprietary technology to standardize travel information into one electronic language," said American Express Business Travel senior vice president Lisa Durocher in a statement of the proprietary technology, called Digital Travel Record. "Through DTR, American Express Business Travel has been able to collaborate with multiple mobile technology developers and integrate these leading services to provide a comprehensive feature set that can be configured to meet the varying needs of our corporate clients. MobileXtend delivers what travelers increasingly demand by combining traveler-focused applications and functionality with enterprise technology and service."
Other technology suppliers Amex said was involved in the development of MobileXtend include WorldMate, ConTgo and Amex partner Rearden Commerce, which has
developed its own mobile solution. MobileXtend, though, incorporates Short Message Service text messaging capabilities through ConTgo, which allow travel managers to deliver messages directly to travelers' mobile devices and which Rearden vice president Tony D'Astolfo today told
BTN Rearden soon may incorporate into its own offering.
ConTgo and WorldMate also have been involved in the development of Amex competitor
Carlson Wagonlit Travel's mobile solution.
"Thanks to DTR technology, we can now integrate our full range of services on a global basis to customers serviced by American Express Business Travel without the traditional 'country-by-country' approach," said ConTgo co-founder and CEO Johnny Thorsen. "DTR allows us to retrieve and process all relevant travel bookings via a single common interface, resulting in massive cost reductions for business customers and a significantly faster rollout of the solution."
Other MobileXtend capabilities, Amex said, include an on-time alert service, keyword-based travel information, search capabilities for dining options and flight schedules, social media integration and a currency converter.
"Both business travelers and the companies that keep them on the road recognize the importance of mobile capabilities and mobile's potential to provide better communication, control and service," Durocher said. "Travelers expect to have access to their travel details while on-trip. At the same time, corporations are looking for a comprehensive solution. Our MobileXtend platform is re-inventing the travel experience by meeting these needs."