Travel Technology Initiative Special Report: Free internet phone call service Skype is seeking a large UK travel company, such as a global distribution system, to champion its usage and gain further momentum within the sector. Skype UK, Ireland & Netherlands market development manager Alistair Shrimpton said he was beginning to see the software make some headway within travel but predominantly among small businesses. "In travel I'm seeing the fringe of what we saw in the small business arena before it really boomed for us. I'm seeing small, sharp entities realising that by offering it as a way for users to contact you, you get more business. He continued: "Travel is a key category and we need a champion – someone like a Galileo or an Amadeus. There are huge cost savings and efficiency savings to be made." He highlighted the other benefits of using Skype such as using it to send information, pictures and videos as well as for talking and instant messaging. "When I reserved my holiday online my wife sent me a lastminute.com URL using Skype so that I could see it, click on it and buy it. We see so many people who get to the 'buy me' button but need someone else to help make the decision." Shrimpton added that in some areas of the world Skype was becoming a 'default' technology with customers expecting companies to provide it as a means of communication. He also cited examples where Skype is ideal for travel such as 'Skype call me' buttons on websites for users to contact a hotel, car-hire or other travel company. Shrimpton said he was already in discussions with a number of online travel companies to use Skype call me buttons on their websites and integrate them with call-centres. Travel-themed Skypecasts are another good application for travel, enabling people to use the technology to share ideas about a destination, he said. In the UK, Skype claims three million registered users - 8% of the potential market. Shrimpton said: "It is small and there is a long way to go but the market is bigger than where we are today." eBay-owned Skype registers six new users worldwide every second and claims to be already picking up 7% of international call minutes. *See www.TravelMole.com for further TTI conference news. Report by Linda Fox

Categories:  Breaking News, Travel Agent News, Tour Operator, Travel Technology News

USER COMMENTS

Donna Parkinson 28 September 2006, 16:38:56 GMT Skype - lines still not clear I have been trying to use Skype for over 18 months, the concept is great but I can't trust the line quality, in fact I have given up after I keep having to put the phone down to clients and call them back on my landline....it was making me look unprofessional.   Nick Cooper Director, Villa Plus 28 September 2006, 09:07:02 GMT 0870 numbers Travel companies have not embraced this yet. They want to keep you on hold on an 0870 number.   Darren Cronian Travel Blogger, Travel Rants 27 September 2006, 18:43:32 GMT It does what it says on the Tin Paul, there's nothing new about Skype, other than they have just made it Mac compatiable. What they are trying to do though is get Skype out in the minds of travellers, but like you mention it all depends on the quality of the line.   Paul Tilstone Executive Director, Institute of Travel management 27 September 2006, 16:59:51 GMT Skype all hype? As a home-office worker and head of a small organisation I am an avid Skype user. There's no question it contributes to reduced cost BUT I need to have an alternative line as on many occassions the call quality is not good and there are no humans to help you - just the usual round of FAQ pages and standard responses. This may be a real alternative for business telecoms but not a complete replacement option....not yet anyway.   Barry Peters 20 September 2006, 16:13:29 GMT What's new about Skype? We've had a Skype Us button for over 6 months on www.cruisingholidays.co.uk   Jon Hewson ManagingPartner-Special Projects, VirtuallyThere.ca 20 September 2006, 15:05:59 GMT Skype; Gizmo-Project; et al - All Save Money On all the web sites we develop for Travel Agent Clients have Skype buttons to allow web site viewers to immediately contact the Agency. There are more players than Skype, check out Gizmo-Project and Google - the last two of which are interoperable. Skype is encrypted which is good for passing e-tickets and credit card info. One of our Client Agencies hands out complimentary memory chip Dongles (cost only GBP3) which have Skype installed on them and only require plugging into a USB port on a computer to be active.   Darren Cronian Travel Blogger, Travel Rants 20 September 2006, 13:47:05 GMT Funny that... I received a travel news request from the PR company working with Skype today, asking me to blog about how Skype can be used by travellers on the move. Feel free to read the article here   Neville Wynn 20 September 2006, 13:04:15 GMT All Resorthoppa staff have SKYPE Resorthoppa staff are all using SKYPE. We intend to add a clause in our contracts with our transport providers insisting that they install SKYPE in order to cut down charges for all concerned.   J.R. Vargas Sales Manager, JACOB 20 September 2006, 11:26:02 GMT restel implements Skype to its worldwide executives restel, the accommodation provider and hotel reservation center based in Spain, has recently implemented Skype among its associates around the world with an extraordinary cost saving in communication. restel is planning to persuade to its more than 20,000 travel agencies and tour operators around the world to set up Skype on their desk tops to contact our call centers through www.restelhotels.com Perhaps Mr Shrimpton may be interested to contact us to discuss further support with this matter.   Maggie Dobson 20 September 2006, 11:06:01 GMT Skype for At Home in London clients If my clients wish to chat about one of the homes in my network of London B&Bs they can now Skype me. And I can Skype photographs to them of options of where to stay whilst we are talking. Great. Maggie Dobson   Bruce Hodge 20 September 2006, 10:46:05 GMT Mach Associates Rolls Out Skype Support We fully endorse Alastair's views on the power and cost savings of using technologies such as Skype for communicating with customers. It so happens that we are this week rolling out support for Skype and other communication channels in our Reservation System MARS. This will allow our tour operator customers to communicate with their clients using Skype. http://www.machassociates.com/