Using SMS to book and buy air tickets in Australia

Carrier Jetstar and mobile operator Optus worked together to create a service where users need only to send a couple of SMS to book and buy tickets. JetSMS allows users to book Jetstar flights 24 hours a day via SMS.

The technology was developed by Optus with Start Corporation, an Australian provider of enterprise SMS applications. The system is available to users of mobile phones connected to any mobile network in Australia.

Allen Lew, Managing Director Optus Mobile, says "With four out of five Australians now owning a mobile phone, it makes sense for flight bookings and information to be made available anywhere, anytime via SMS.

Once registered for the service, a Jetstar customer will be able to use SMS to make flight bookings. To make a flight booking, a customer types an SMS from their mobile phone to request flight information. An SMS is then sent back with the details of available flights. The customer then sends another SMS to confirm the flight required. Details of the confirmed booking are then sent to the phone, again via SMS. The customer simply retains the final SMS as confirmation of the booking and presents this to the check-in staff at the airport.

The service is expected to be live from late June 2004.