Telenor and SMART AB initiate a comprehensive ASP collaboration
Fornebu
5 minute read
Today Telenor Business Solutions and SMART AB, Northern Europe's leading company in electronic sales and distribution of travel services, entered into a collaboration agreement. Telenor Business Solutions is to develop an Application Service Provider (ASP) solution that SMART will then offer its Nordic travel agency customers at the beginning of next year. In addition, Telenor Business Solutions will take over the operation of SMART's central computer solution; an agreement with a market value of approx. NOK 200 million.
For SMART AB and Telenor Business Systems, the overriding objective of this ASP collaboration is to develop Internet-based communication solutions that will help strengthen the position of travel agencies in the travel market. To satisfy their customers, many travel agencies have to expand their activities by including booking and information via the Internet. Many travel agencies lack the resources for creating the technical platform necessary to be able to offer their customers sufficiently attractive services.
The technical platform Telenor Business Solutions is now developing for SMART, will be operated by Telenor. This will enable the travel agencies to focus on their core business of building and developing relationships with their customers, and at the same time offering competitive services.
"SMART serves 82 per cent of all travel agencies in the Nordic region, and if SMART and Telenor succeed in developing solutions for these travel agencies, this can be one of the largest ASP contracts in Europe. In other words, it is a strategic collaboration with great potential", said Tarje Holskil, Division Manager of Telenor Business Solutions.
"We believe Telenor is the best provider for developing the technical platform that SMART needs in order to offer our travel agency clients competitive services and products", said Mats Mitsell, Managing Director of SMART.
In addition to delivering the ASP solutions, Telenor Business Solutions will take over the operation of SMART's own computer systems, including Internet and ISDN systems. The agreement represents a total market value of approx. NOK 200 million over five years.
SMART
SMART is Northern Europe's leading company in electronic sales and distribution of travel, reservations and tickets. SMART is the general agent for Amadeus, a global travel reservation system. Altogether the company has approx. 350 employees in its offices in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Riga and Vilnius. The parent company SMART AB is located in Stockholm, with more than 150 employees. SMART is building an electronic infrastructure that will link airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines and tour operators up with travel agents and end customers. SMART handles electronic travel services totalling approx. NOK 60 billion annually. Sixty per cent of all airline reservations in Scandinavia are made via SMART's system.
Telenor Business Solutions
Telenor Business Solutions is a leading Nordic supplier of ASP (Application Service Provider) services, outsourcing, advanced communications solutions and consulting services for eBusiness. The most important brands in this business area are Telenor Login and Telenor VIP Nett. For further information about Telenor's ASP business, please visit: www.telenor-login.com
The technical platform Telenor Business Solutions is now developing for SMART, will be operated by Telenor. This will enable the travel agencies to focus on their core business of building and developing relationships with their customers, and at the same time offering competitive services.
"SMART serves 82 per cent of all travel agencies in the Nordic region, and if SMART and Telenor succeed in developing solutions for these travel agencies, this can be one of the largest ASP contracts in Europe. In other words, it is a strategic collaboration with great potential", said Tarje Holskil, Division Manager of Telenor Business Solutions.
"We believe Telenor is the best provider for developing the technical platform that SMART needs in order to offer our travel agency clients competitive services and products", said Mats Mitsell, Managing Director of SMART.
In addition to delivering the ASP solutions, Telenor Business Solutions will take over the operation of SMART's own computer systems, including Internet and ISDN systems. The agreement represents a total market value of approx. NOK 200 million over five years.
SMART
SMART is Northern Europe's leading company in electronic sales and distribution of travel, reservations and tickets. SMART is the general agent for Amadeus, a global travel reservation system. Altogether the company has approx. 350 employees in its offices in Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, Riga and Vilnius. The parent company SMART AB is located in Stockholm, with more than 150 employees. SMART is building an electronic infrastructure that will link airlines, hotels, car rental companies, cruise lines and tour operators up with travel agents and end customers. SMART handles electronic travel services totalling approx. NOK 60 billion annually. Sixty per cent of all airline reservations in Scandinavia are made via SMART's system.
Telenor Business Solutions
Telenor Business Solutions is a leading Nordic supplier of ASP (Application Service Provider) services, outsourcing, advanced communications solutions and consulting services for eBusiness. The most important brands in this business area are Telenor Login and Telenor VIP Nett. For further information about Telenor's ASP business, please visit: www.telenor-login.com