9:28 PM pinpoint travel | ||||
#AOLs Pinpoint Travel makes official debut on the Web: Travel Weekly DULLES, Va. -- America Online launched its travel-search engine, Pinpoint Travel, for air and hotel inventory. The Web site, at www.pinpointtravel.com. is powered by Kayak, in which AOL is a minority investor, and has a different look and feel than Kayak.com . The launch of the Web site punctuates AOLs transition away from reliance on its walled garden membership service toward an emphasis on Internet retailing for members and nonmembers alike. An AOL spokesman said that Pinpoint, which doesnt handle bookings but refers users to supplier and online agency sites, will soon add one-way flights and car rental searches. Pinpoints business model is based on advertising revenue, to be generated on a cost-per-click basis when consumers click on listings that send them to booking Web sites. Among the sites features: In addition to the Web site itself, Pinpoint Travel is integrated in AOLs general search engine. A Pinpoint Travel search box pops up, for instance, when users use the AOL search to look for cheap flights or San Francisco hotels. It also has entry points on www.aol.com and the AOL subscription service. The launch of Pinpoint Travel coincided with a redesign of Travelocity-powered AOL Travel. The redesign facilitates easier integration with advertisers and enhances the graphics and navigation for consumers, an AOL spokesman said. Travelocity powers AOL Travel, which is accessible at www.aoltravel.com and AOL keyword travel. Travelocity is the exclusive air, car, hotel, vacation package and cruise booking engine on AOL Travel, but the exclusivity ends there. To contact reporter Dennis Schaal, send e-mail to tweditorial@ntmllc.com .
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