Crenk

It has been reported this morning that Farecast has been acquired by Microsoft for $115 million. Farecast is a travel prediction engine which attempts to help you find the most ideal time to purchase tickets.

This is a good return for investors into Farecast, because they received approx 5 times their investment.

Microsoft has already openly stated that they will integrate the Farecast technology into MSN Travel. Farecast had a very good technology and im sure there must have been more companies interested in Farecast, because I cant see that Microsoft would pay $115 million just to put the technology into their travel section. Must have been a strategic move to keep the technology out of reach of their competitors.

TripTouch is a Tel Aviv startup that focuses on the travel industry. The site is built for independent travellers who want to make the most of their trips around the world. The site is a social network mixed with search facilities. They have partnered with Kayak to provide accommodation and travel search, which seems to mix in nicely with the overall look and feel of the site.

Everything on TripTouch is based around local feel, so once you select which town anywhere in the world you would like information on, then you will receive local photos, news, travel information, weather, currency information and the ability to search for flights and accommodation. Everything in one spot!

Additionally, they have added a social network in which also acts as information when searching locations. For example if I travel to Brisbane (AUS) and write a little comment about the place, then it will appear in the search results when someone else looks for the same location.

Currently, TripTouch is still in beta stage but it has the making of the one stop shop for travelling information.