MSN Travel
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| File:Live Search Farecast.png Bing Travel homepage | |
Type of site | Travel services |
|---|---|
| Owner | Microsoft |
| URL | bing |
| Launched | September 15, 2010 |
Bing Travel (previously Live Search Farecast and Farecast.com) is an airfare prediction website in the computer reservations system industry. Bing Travel premiered to the public as Farecast on May 15, 2007. Bing Travel differentiates by offering predictions on when is the best time to purchase airline tickets.[1][disputed – discuss]
History
Farecast was founded four years before its launch in 2003; according to Farecast it has collected over 175 billion airfare observations as of 2007.[2] Farecast's team of data miners use these airfare observations to build algorithms to predict future airfare price movements.
In April 2008, Farecast was bought by Microsoft at a price believed to be around $75 million to 115 million.[3] Microsoft officially integrated it as part of its Live Search group of tools in May 2008. On June 3, 2009, Microsoft officially rebranded Live Search Farecast as Bing Travel as part of its efforts to create a new search identity.
Controversy
In 2009, there were allegations that Bing Travel had copied its layouts from Kayak.com. Microsoft denied the allegations and stated that "Bing Travel is based on independent development by Microsoft and Farecast.com, which Microsoft acquired in 2008. Any contrary allegations are without merit."[4] By January 2013, Bing Travel results are powered by KAYAK.com, as noted by this copy at the bottom of search results: "Results powered by KAYAK.com".
As of January 2014, the fare prediction feature has been removed.
See also
References
- ^ Mohl, Bruce (2006-06-04). "While other sites list airfares, newcomer forecasts where they're headed". boston.com.
- ^ "Farecast.com Launches Airfare Deals Based On Science, Not Marketing". Farecast.com. 2007-03-13.
- ^ "Microsoft buys travel search site". theregister.co.uk. 2008-04-18.
- ^ "Kayak to Bing: Stop Copying Us! - Update". wired.com. June 24, 2009.
