Galileo Announces Availability of Viewpoint 3.0

Galileo International, a leading provider of electronic global distribution services for the travel industry, today announced the availability of Viewpoint 3.0. The latest version of Galileo's revolutionary booking solution using familiar Windows®-based navigation allows a user to customise display and content access. Viewpoint 3.0 also has local language capabilities, with the main itinerary screen viewable in three Asian languages - Korean, Japanese and traditional Chinese. Additional languages are under development.

"Viewpoint 3.0 offers a high degree of flexibility through customisation, allowing customers to determine their own preferences for work processes through content display and access," said Janie Kaung, executive vice president and managing director of Galileo's Asia Pacific region. "This addresses the market requirement for flexible front office capabilities that can be integrated into the current and future front office or 'desktop' functions of our client base. It also fits Galileo's strategy to offer a new generation of services through open technologies." 

Galileo Viewpoint 3.0 delivers a superior travel sales management solution that can be specifically customised for agents using the new Custom Viewpoint feature. In recognition that different agencies work in different ways, customisation is a key feature of Viewpoint 3.0. Using standard computer industry technology, customisation allows any agency to meet its unique needs by integrating its own business process into Viewpoint and interfacing with other applications - such as the Galileo e-Agent™ portal - as and when they are needed. A Software Developers Kit (SDK) has been created for this purpose. Built on 
industry-standard development interfaces - rather than on a Galileo proprietary interface - Viewpoint 3.0's customisation feature allows agencies to:

· create a customisable toolbar

· access 3rd party databases

· create customised JavaScript scripts to perform functions outside of Viewpoint 

· create 3rd party applications that respond to Viewpoint events with custom features

· automatically launch Viewpoint dialogs

· safeguard customisations through version control

The local language capability is another major new feature. Globally, Viewpoint 3.0 is available in 10 languages including the three Asia-Pacific languages of Korean, Japanese and traditional Chinese. E-mails with itineraries can be sent to clients in these languages as well. On-line help is available in the same languages too.

Viewpoint 3.0 provides a range of other enhancements. The all new Galileo Command Window environment marries traditional Focalpoint functionality with Viewpoint 3.0. Enhancements such as Programmable Keys, Customisable Toolbars - and the ability to tailor the Command Window work environment including colours, position and even font size - allowing travel agents to work the way they choose. The Command Window will act as a bridge to help users be even more efficient in making the transition from Focalpoint to Viewpoint.

The powerful City Finder engine in Viewpoint 3.0 gives agents access to information such as attractions, suburban towns, travel ports and reference points associated with cities around the world, further advancing the speed and effectiveness of all air, car and hotel searches.

Viewpoint continues to provide access to Galileo's web portal e-Agent, giving agents bookable content and information services, and allowing them to sell fully commissionable ground transport, resort packages, theatre tickets and more. These items provide excellent ways for agents to enhance service, value and revenue. 

Launched in its first version in 1999, Viewpoint is the world's first point-and-click reservations system. It allows agents to make air, car and hotel bookings without having to learn the cryptic commands associated with traditional reservation systems. Easy-to-use buttons, icons, menus and check boxes - familiar to anyone who has used Windows - make the entire booking process intuitive and fast. Viewpoint can be mastered in a fraction of the time it takes to become proficient on cryptic reservations systems and is helping travel agents increase staff productivity, reduce staff training costs and boost profitability.