Bangkok--Apr 5--Siemens
Siemens Information and Communication Mobile (Siemens mobile), the country's leading mobile communications supplier, and Galileo Thailand, local distributor for Galileo International, a leading global distribution services company and subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), today announced the introduction of Galileo SMS, a new travel product that enables travel agents to send customers' travel itineraries and e-ticket information via mobile phones.
Mr. Rudolf Klink, Executive Vice President of Siemens mobile Thailand, stated that "Siemens mobile is very pleased to cooperate with Galileo which has a global reputation for travel reservation system to offer the innovative service for travelers. This is the first cooperation between Siemens mobile and Galileo International in Thailand. We believe that this will be another step of developing new value-added services for travel industry."
This easy-to-use application allows travel agents to send air ticket, hotel and car itineraries to customers simply by keying-in each customer's mobile phone number when a reservation is made. The service will soon be expanded to include confirmation of airline e-ticket numbers via SMS.
Subject to the mobile phone provider, users need only make a one-time registration by sending the message "trip" to 4217001 for AIS subscribers, and 1901901 for DTAC subscribers. Once registered, travel agents are automatically able to send travel itineraries and e-ticket numbers via mobile phones. The transaction fee is just five baht per message.
"We are very pleased to partner with Siemens to launch Galileo SMS, the most recent addition to our range of innovative products for the Thai travel industry," said Mr. Steve Skilbeck, General Manager, Galileo Thailand. "This new initiative will allow travel agents to provide a faster and more efficient service to the traveling public, as well as expanding the use of e-tickets in the Thai market".
Initially, the service will be available to subscribers of AIS and DTAC and opened to other mobile operators in the second half of this year.
Mobile phone users who register for "trip" from now until July 2004 will also have the opportunity to win special prizes including airline tickets or hotel accommodation.
Notes for editors:
About Siemens mobile
The Siemens Information and Communication Mobile Group (Siemens mobile) is one of the world's leading full-line suppliers in the field of mobile communication, offering mobile phones, cordless phones, wireless modules and mobile infrastructure, as well as all radio and switching modules, consulting services and systems integration. The mobile communication arm of Siemens AG markets products and services in more than 120 countries, generating sales of € 10 billion with a workforce of some 26,900 people in fiscal 2003 (September 30). Siemens mobile is the world market leader in prepaid solutions and digital cordless phones.
About Galileo Thailand
Galileo Thailand was established in 1996 and distributes the complete range of Galileo International's reservation products and services. From its offices in Bangkok, Pattaya, Had Yai, Phuket, Samui and Chiang Mai, Galileo provides training, technical and help desk support to travel agents throughout Thailand.
About Galileo International
Galileo International is a global technology leader. Its core business is providing electronic global distribution services for the travel industry through its computerized reservation systems, leading-edge products and innovative Internet-based solutions. Galileo is a value-added distributor of travel inventory dedicated to supporting its travel supplier, agency and corporate customers and, through them, expanding traveler choice. A subsidiary of Cendant Corporation, Galileo is part of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Group and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, USA, with offices worldwide. Visit www.galileo.com.
About Cendant Travel Distribution Services Division
Cendant's Travel Distribution Services Division is one of the world's largest and most geographically diverse collections of travel brands and distribution businesses. The division, employing nearly 5,000 people in more than 116 countries, includes: Galileo, a leading global distribution services (GDS) company, serving more than 43,000 travel agencies and over 60,000 hotels; hotel distribution and services businesses (Trust, THOR, WizCom and Neat Group); leading travel agencies (Cheap Tickets and Lodging.com); Shepherd Systems, an airline market intelligence company; Travelwire, an international travel technology and software company; Travel 2/Travel 4, a leading international provider of long-haul air travel and travel product consolidator; and Travelport, a provider of online global corporate travel management solutions.
For more information, please contact:
Voraparn Eua-arporn, Tanaporn Charoenrath Pimjai U-nanupap
Information and Communication Mobile Group Galileo Thailand Co. Ltd.
Siemens Limited 16th Fl., River Wing West, Empire Tower,
Tel. 02 715 4527, 02 715 5302 195 South Sathorn Rd., Sathorn, BKK
Fax 02 715 4954 Tel: 02 6700650-4, Fax: 02 6700665-6
Email:
[email protected],
[email protected] End.
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