Microsoft Joins Coalition Of Travel Sites Opposing Google-ITA Deal

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Microsoft Joins Coalition Of Travel Sites Opposing Google-ITA Deal [blog.seattlepi.com]

Microsoft has joined a coalition of travel and search websites that are opposing Google's planned acquisition of ITA Software, the group said today.

FairSearch.org has been appealing to the U.S. Department of Justice to scrutinize the deal, which critics say would give Google an unfair competitive advantage in online travel. ITA Software is the leader in airfare and airline schedule searching, and its technology is used by firms such as Expedia, Travelocity and Kayak.

Those companies were founding members of the coalition, which is urging an antitrust review. Microsoft, and spin-off Expedia, separately expressed concern to the Justice Department in September. Microsoft uses ITA technology in the travel section of Bing.

[bhartzer]

It's logical that Microsoft would do this; if Google acquires ITA Software, it would give Google an unfair advantags.