ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Galileo this week is rolling out Galileo
Wireless, an enhancement that enables mobile travelers to access
airline, car and hotel reservations and manage itinerary changes en
route through virtually any Web-enabled digital phone or wireless
device.
Apollo travel agents are being offered a co-branded version that
enables them to offer the service to corporate clients. About 40
travel agencies participated in beta testing earlier this year.
Galileo expects about 500 firms to sign up by September,
according to the company's U.S. sales director Patricia
Elliott.
The service is being offered for free, but modest service
charges will kick in later, Elliott said.
As of this week, users can change flight reservations and view
car and hotel reservations; the ability to change car and hotel
reservations will be added by the fourth quarter, she said.
Travelers can, for example, use the device to read e-mail
messages about flight delays and make their own itinerary changes
without having to involve the agent's customer service staff or
boot up a laptop. Changes are queued to the agent.
Galileo said the wireless option is designed to give corporate
travelers the tools to "stay in control," while keeping the agent
in control of the account.