> >Air Canada introduces wireless mobile kiosks from IBM > > > > > > First technology solution resulting from strategic partnership between > IBM and Air Canada > > WHITE PLAINS, NY and TORONTO, CANADA, April 25 /CNW/ - Air Canada has >begun using new wireless, mobile IBM self-service kiosks in a trial program= to >help expedite passenger check-in at Toronto's Lester B. Pearson Airport.= The >mobile kiosks represent the first jointly-developed solution resulting from >the strategic partnership recently formed by IBM and Air Canada. > Roving Air Canada agents are using the new mobile kiosks to assist in >"line busting" during busy travel periods, check-in passengers on >close-to-departure flights and to facilitate large groups and passengers= with >special needs. > The wireless mobile kiosks are based on the IBM self-service kiosk= system >that Air Canada has been using since 1998. This system, which consists of= 142 >kiosks across eight Canadian airports, has served as many as half the >customers during peak periods and provides passengers with 80% reduction in >check-in time. "We see the mobile IBM self-service kiosks as an extremely >flexible solution that allows us to bring the convenience of quick check-in >directly to the customer, while allowing us to leverage our existing kiosk= IT >infrastructure," said Alice Keung, CIO, Air Canada. > To check-in passengers with the mobile kiosks Air Canada agents --= using >a wearable computer and a mobile printer attached to their belt -- simply >swipe the passenger's credit card or Air Canada Aeroplan frequent flier= card >through the printer to pull up the reservation. Alternatively the agent can >input the passenger name and flight number on the computer's touchscreen= pad. >Once the record is displayed on the wearable computer -- an eight-inch= touch >screen display unit -- the agent can check the passenger in and print a >boarding pass allowing the customer to proceed directly to the gate. >Additionally customers can confirm upgrades or rebook for an earlier flight >through the mobile kiosk. > "The mobile kiosk solution combines a face-to-face transaction with= the >convenience of automation," said Marty Salfen, IBM's managing director for= Air >Canada. "In addition to enabling passengers to check-in in less than 60 >seconds, we've found that the mobile kiosk also acts as bridge to the= regular >self service kiosks," said Norbert Manger, vice president - airports, Air >Canada. "People who may have steered clear of kiosks in the past, are much >less intimidated by them after having gone through the process with a live >agent. This bridging process is extremely beneficial since our goal is to >achieve 75% automated check in within the next three years, and free up >personnel to handle complex transactions like ticket exchanges," he added. > In developing the mobile self service kiosks, IBM ported the= applications >on Air Canada's existing kiosk system directly to the hand held units. The >existing architecture consists of an IBM eServer pSeries which acts as a >gateway between the kiosk server and the IBM Transaction Process Facility >application software which holds the reservation data. The kiosk system is >powered by IBM MQSeries, IBM Kiosk Manager and IBM Consumer Device Services >software. The mobile IBM kiosk operates on an 802.11b wireless network and >includes several additional authentication layers and security enhancements= on >top of the standard Wired Equivalent Privacy encryption algorithm layer in= the >802.11b network. > Air Canada plans to add additional mobile kiosk capabilities later= this >year, and as part of its strategic partnership with IBM, is also exploring= how >wireless technology can bring similar benefits and efficiencies to other >operational areas such as maintenance and sales. > Montr=E9al-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air >transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 160 destinations on= five >continents. Canada's flag carrier is the 12th largest commercial airline in >the world and serves more than 30 million customers annually with a fleet >consisting of more than 300 aircraft. Air Canada is a founding member of= Star >Alliance providing the world's most comprehensive air transportation= network. > IBM has been working with the airline industry since the early 1960's, >and today is an information technology supplier to virtually every major >airline in the world. For more information on IBM's offerings in the travel >industry, visit=20 ><http://www.ibm.com/industries/travel>www.ibm.com/industries/travel. > > About IBM Global Services > > IBM Global Services is the world's largest information technology >services provider, with approximately 150,000 professionals serving= customers >in 160 countries and annual revenue of approximately $35 billion (2001). In >Canada, there are approximately 11,000 IGS employees providing Canadian >businesses with the most innovative IT services in the marketplace today.= IBM >Global Services integrates IBM's broad range of capabilities to help= companies >of all sizes realize the full value of information technology. For more >information, visit <http://www.ibm.com/services>www.ibm.com/services. > > The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site: Roj (Roger James) *************************************************** escape email mailto:ejames@escape.ca Trinbago site: http://www.tntisland.com CBSC Website http://www.tntisland.com/caribbeansocabrassconnection/ The Trinbago Site of the Week: (Gail's Restaurant) http://www.trinbagoinfo.com/gail/ (Gail's Restaurant) courtesy of Roj Trinbago Website & TnT Web Directory Roj's Trinbago Website: http://www.tntisland.com TnT Web Directory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************