Worldview Systems Selects Netscape Software to Create Interactive Online Travel Service

Business Wire, Dec 20, 1995

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 20, 1995--Worldview Systems Corporation and Netscape Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) announced today that a core team of Worldview software engineers is creating a next-generation electronic travel service based on the Netscape software platform for enterprise networks and the Internet.

Worldview is using three Netscape Internet Applications' software solutions -- Netscape Publishing System, Netscape Community System, and Netscape Merchant System -- to build the most comprehensive and user-friendly electronic travel service ever introduced.

The new travel service, to be branded "Travelocity," is being developed jointly by San Francisco-based Worldview Systems Corporation, a leading provider of interactive and online travel-related information products and services, and SABRE Interactive, a business unit of The SABRE Group, the technology arm of AMR Corp. in Fort Worth, Texas.

Slated for launch in early March, Travelocity is designed to enable users to access one convenient Internet location to reserve and purchase airline tickets, access travel and entertainment information, and purchase customized travel guides and other unique travel-related products. Travelocity also plans to allow users to share travel experiences through real-time chat groups, conferences, and Internet postings managed by noted travel writers and correspondents.

"Netscape Internet Applications provide the open, cross-platform software tools Worldview engineers need to develop this ambitious online travel service," said B.D. Goel, vice president of engineering at Worldview. "Their superior performance, ease of use, and security technology enable us to professionally serve and manage our online information and confidently conduct business online."

"Worldview is another great example of how organizations are leveraging the Internet to provide better information and services to their customers. Travelocity takes advantage of Netscape Internet Applications to give Internet users up-to-date information on thousands of destinations worldwide," said Jim Sha, vice president of product development at Netscape. "Similarly, nine out of the top 10 Fortune 500 companies are now using Netscape software to make information, products, and services available online."

According to Goel, Worldview also plans to use Netscape LiveWire, a professional visual development environment for creating, deploying, and maintaining online application systems, and the Netscape Server Application Programming Interface to integrate user and transaction databases and a full text search engine with the Netscape servers. Additionally, the engineers are using Sun Microsystem's Java programming language and the JavaScript scripting language developed by Netscape and Sun to optimize the user interface of the new service, he said.

SABRE Interactive will provide the online travel reservations module of Travelocity, which will be powered by the easySABRE computer reservation system. Worldview will provide the destination information, chat forums and travel merchandise store.

Internet Applications Enable Online Travel Service

Netscape Internet Applications are turnkey software solutions that are enabling Worldview to create a sophisticated online service and conduct full-scale electronic commerce on the Internet. The applications handle high-volume transaction processing and real-time data management, and provide easy-to-use interfaces and encrypted communications.

Netscape Publishing System organizes, customizes, and delivers text, graphics, audio or video documents to Internet users. It is being used to integrate Worldview's extensive travel and entertainment database of international events and attractions into the new service. Netscape Community System will enable Internet users to access interactive online travel information such as bulletin boards and online chat forums.

Netscape Merchant System provides the software tools Worldview is using to build a virtual travel mall where participating vendors can display and sell their travel products directly to consumers. Based on the Netscape Commerce Server, like all Netscape Internet Applications, Netscape Merchant System includes advanced security features based on the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) open protocol for Internet security. It will manage the thousands of queries and transactions that come into Travelocity from Internet users when the service is launched.

About The Companies

Worldview Systems Corporation, a joint venture of Ameritech and Random House, was founded in San Francisco in 1987 to meet the need within the travel industry for difficult-to-obtain, time-sensitive destination information. Worldview's award-winning multilingual editorial department and correspondent network provide insider-perspective on local events and attractions in addition to up-to-date information on dining, business services, nightlife and shopping in thousands of destinations worldwide.

Travelers can participate in Worldview's online chat forums and browse Worldview's database on the Internet and on the commercial online services. Custom-published Fodor's Worldview guidebooks can be ordered prior to planned trips. Worldview's travel software and database is also available for private labeling. Worldview's customers and partners include American Express, American Airlines/SABRE, Associated Press, Bloomberg Financial Services, and the Carlson Travel Network.