IBM today announced that Worldspan, L.P., a global travel technology leader and the leading supplier of Internet-based travel offerings, has selected six new System z9 Enterprise Class (EC) mainframe servers to provide electronic data services that link approximately 700 travel suppliers around the world to millions of travelers. Worldspan’s selection comes after the completion of an exhaustive review of all available options for their future capacity needs. The decision marks their continued commitment to the mainframe platform for core transaction processing that is seamlessly integrated with IBM System x Intel server technology for shopping functions such as Worldspan’s industry leading e-Pricing® low-fare shopping technology.
Worldspan is using the new System z9 EC to provide brick-and-mortar travel agents as well as online travel reservation sites with the ability to shop and book travel products from airlines, hotels, car rental companies and other travel service providers globally, via the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS). Additionally, the company is taking advantage of a unique Capacity On-Demand Offering to ramp up computing power on a daily basis and to accommodate spikes in reservations and ticketing.
“We're pleased to be continuing our long-standing relationship with IBM, and in turn providing our customers advanced mainframe technology that will exemplify our commitment to excellence,” said David Lauderdale, Worldspan chief technical officer and senior vice president. “We are looking forward to tapping into additional computing capacity on demand with ease, when travel demand is peaking—particularly around the summer, spring break and Thanksgiving holidays.”
Using IBM’s Transaction Processing Facility (TPF) software, Worldspan is able to process well over 17,000 customer transactions per second within the mainframe complex. The company plans to implement the newest version of the software, z/TPF, which allows for more contemporary use of design and development tools.
“Worldspan’s selection of the System z9 EC is a great example of how mainframe technology continues to offer customers the most reliable and
secure systems, with the ability to handle critical back-room operations in the world’s most complex industries,” said Jim Stallings, general manager, IBM System z. “We are pleased to be expanding our relationship with Worldspan and to provide them with the industry’s most advanced technology, demonstrating IBM’s commitment to innovation.”
“IBM and Worldspan have jointly focused on opening up the Transaction Processing Facility (TPF) operating system to fully leverage open systems-based technology, which is critical to Worldspan’s global leadership position in Web-based travel e-commerce. The System z9 servers running TPF support Worldspan’s expanding use of technologies such as TCP/IP, XML, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and IBM WebsphereMQ,” said Lauderdale.
The six new machines will be linked to form a complex with a total available capacity of almost 62,000 MIPS. While the complex is architected to meet Worldspan's capacity needs for the next five years, the inherent scalability of the machines will allow Worldspan to nondisruptively add even more capacity, should that be required. In addition to the scalability offered, key factors in Worldspan's decision included the capability of the z9 systems to accommodate, at a hardware level, the latest security
standards found only in Z9, such as EAL5 certification, the latest new AES standard level of encryption algorithm, master encryption keys stored in a tamper-resistant package, and the use of new Intrusion Detection Services.
For more information about IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com.
About Worldspan, L.P.
Worldspan is a leader in travel technology services for travel suppliers, travel agencies, e-commerce sites and corporations worldwide. Utilizing some of the fastest, most flexible and efficient networks and computing technologies, Worldspan provides comprehensive electronic data services linking thousands of travel suppliers around the world to a global customer base. Worldspan offers industry-leading Fares and Pricing technology such as Worldspan e-Pricing®, hosting solutions and customized travel products. Worldspan enables travel suppliers, distributors and corporations to reduce costs and increase productivity with technology like Worldspan Go!® and Worldspan Trip Manager® XE. Worldspan is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional information is available at worldspan.com.
Statements in this release and any exhibits hereto which are not purely historical facts, including statements about forecasted financial projections or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Worldspan, L.P. (“the Company”) on the date this release was submitted. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: the Company’s revenue being highly dependent on the travel and transportation industries; airlines limiting their participation in travel marketing and distribution services; airlines altering their content or changing the pricing of such content; or other changes within, or that may affect the travel industry or the Company. More information on potential risks and uncertainties is available in the Company’s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual Form 10-K report, Forms 10-Q and Forms 8-K.
Worldspan is using the new System z9 EC to provide brick-and-mortar travel agents as well as online travel reservation sites with the ability to shop and book travel products from airlines, hotels, car rental companies and other travel service providers globally, via the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS). Additionally, the company is taking advantage of a unique Capacity On-Demand Offering to ramp up computing power on a daily basis and to accommodate spikes in reservations and ticketing.
“We're pleased to be continuing our long-standing relationship with IBM, and in turn providing our customers advanced mainframe technology that will exemplify our commitment to excellence,” said David Lauderdale, Worldspan chief technical officer and senior vice president. “We are looking forward to tapping into additional computing capacity on demand with ease, when travel demand is peaking—particularly around the summer, spring break and Thanksgiving holidays.”
Using IBM’s Transaction Processing Facility (TPF) software, Worldspan is able to process well over 17,000 customer transactions per second within the mainframe complex. The company plans to implement the newest version of the software, z/TPF, which allows for more contemporary use of design and development tools.
“Worldspan’s selection of the System z9 EC is a great example of how mainframe technology continues to offer customers the most reliable and
secure systems, with the ability to handle critical back-room operations in the world’s most complex industries,” said Jim Stallings, general manager, IBM System z. “We are pleased to be expanding our relationship with Worldspan and to provide them with the industry’s most advanced technology, demonstrating IBM’s commitment to innovation.”
“IBM and Worldspan have jointly focused on opening up the Transaction Processing Facility (TPF) operating system to fully leverage open systems-based technology, which is critical to Worldspan’s global leadership position in Web-based travel e-commerce. The System z9 servers running TPF support Worldspan’s expanding use of technologies such as TCP/IP, XML, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and IBM WebsphereMQ,” said Lauderdale.
The six new machines will be linked to form a complex with a total available capacity of almost 62,000 MIPS. While the complex is architected to meet Worldspan's capacity needs for the next five years, the inherent scalability of the machines will allow Worldspan to nondisruptively add even more capacity, should that be required. In addition to the scalability offered, key factors in Worldspan's decision included the capability of the z9 systems to accommodate, at a hardware level, the latest security
standards found only in Z9, such as EAL5 certification, the latest new AES standard level of encryption algorithm, master encryption keys stored in a tamper-resistant package, and the use of new Intrusion Detection Services.
For more information about IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com.
About Worldspan, L.P.
Worldspan is a leader in travel technology services for travel suppliers, travel agencies, e-commerce sites and corporations worldwide. Utilizing some of the fastest, most flexible and efficient networks and computing technologies, Worldspan provides comprehensive electronic data services linking thousands of travel suppliers around the world to a global customer base. Worldspan offers industry-leading Fares and Pricing technology such as Worldspan e-Pricing®, hosting solutions and customized travel products. Worldspan enables travel suppliers, distributors and corporations to reduce costs and increase productivity with technology like Worldspan Go!® and Worldspan Trip Manager® XE. Worldspan is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional information is available at worldspan.com.
Statements in this release and any exhibits hereto which are not purely historical facts, including statements about forecasted financial projections or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Worldspan, L.P. (“the Company”) on the date this release was submitted. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: the Company’s revenue being highly dependent on the travel and transportation industries; airlines limiting their participation in travel marketing and distribution services; airlines altering their content or changing the pricing of such content; or other changes within, or that may affect the travel industry or the Company. More information on potential risks and uncertainties is available in the Company’s recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual Form 10-K report, Forms 10-Q and Forms 8-K.
