Google Agrees To Buy ITA Software

It's confirmed: Google has agreed to buy ITA Software for $700 million cash. ITA co-founder and CEO Jeremy Wertheimer will stay on. He told me Google is "pretty interested in talking to airlines and getting their views" on ITA's res system business, but he was unable in a short phone call just now to say whether Google plans to integrate ITA's airfare shopping results into its general search page. The companies do say the deal "will create a new, easier way for users to find better flight information online, which should encourage more users to make their flight purchases online." The deal is "subject to customary closing conditions." More to come shortly. [more]