| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software, Travel |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Key people | Jeremy Wertheimer: Vice President, Travel, Gianni Marostica: Commercial Director, Travel |
| Products | Software |
| Owner(s) | |
| Employees | 450+ |
| Website | ITAsoftware.com |
ITA Software is a travel industry software company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The company was founded by computer scientists from the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in 1996. On July 1, 2010 ITA agreed to be acquired by Google. On April 8th, 2011 the US Department of Justice approved the buyout. As part of the agreement, Google must license ITA software to other websites for 5 years. [1]
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ITA's first product was an airfare search and pricing system called QPX. This system is now used by travel companies such as Orbitz, Bing Travel, Kayak.com, CheapTickets, and airlines such as American, United, US Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Alitalia, and ANA. ITA also hosts its own website based on QPX, although you cannot buy tickets from it.
ITA is known for using programming puzzles to attract and evaluate potential employees since 2001. Some of these puzzles have appeared in ads on Boston's MBTA subway system.
In January 2006, ITA received $100 million in venture capital money from a syndicate of 5 investment firms led by Battery Ventures, marking the largest investment in a software firm in New England in 5 years.[2]
In September 2006, ITA announced a several million dollar deal with Air Canada[3] to develop a new computer reservations system to power its reservations, inventory control, seat availability, check-in, and airport operations.[4] In August 2009, Air Canada announced that the project had been suspended.[5]
In July 2010, Google announced the acquisition of ITA for $700 million in cash, subject to DOJ review and approval.[6] On April 8th 2011 the US Dept. of Justice and Google reached an agreement in terms to allow the purchase and dismiss a potential antitrust lawsuit. [7]