Recently,
Monaker Group, Inc. (OTCQB: MKGI), a technology-driven travel company focused
on the alternative lodging rental (ALR) market, announced the launch of the
Monaker Booking Engine (MBE) and the completion of the Application Program
Interface (API) to the MBE. These developments further advance Monaker’s foray
into the fastest growing sector of the travel market, alternative lodging
rental, which is expected to reach $169 billion by 2019.
With
the MBE, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) will be able to access Monaker’s vast
inventory of alternative lodging, timeshares and resort accommodation. Through
the API they can go further. Having access to Monaker’s API gives OTAs, tour
operators, airlines and cruise originators the ability to build their own apps
and sites based on the Monaker databases and libraries. By setting up an API,
Monaker is preparing fertile ground for a community to grow around its mission
statement of “Travel Made Easy”.
An
API is essentially a set of standardized requests designed for a particular
program. An API’s protocols tell a software developer the proper way to request
a service, such as printing a document, from the program. An API covers the
middle ground between software that can only be accessed by the one who wrote
it and software with source code that has been made public.
An
entertaining piece in a January 2000 issue of Computerworld magazine (http://dtn.fm/rJPZ1)
explains APIs by drawing similarities to gaining access to your neighbors’ lawn
mowing services if your lawn mower broke down. It’s useless even considering
the first of three neighbors, Closed Carl. A high wall with no gate protects
his lawn mower so there’s no way of getting to him to even broach the subject.
‘An application like Closed Carl exposes no source code or APIs.’
At
the other extreme is Open Oscar. You can enter his yard and borrow his mower
without even asking him first. You can, also, alter the mower to suit your
tastes by, perhaps, installing a beer cooler on it. ‘An application like Open
Oscar has open source code, giving you free reign if you want it.’
The
newest neighbor, API Annie, is nice too. You can borrow her mower provided you
ask, but, aware of your mechanical prowess, she has asked you not to ‘improve’
her lawn mower. With an application like API Annie, you have access to mowing
services, but the lawn mower is off limits.
APIs
have the potential to rapidly develop support systems for an enterprise that
boost its growth. The first company to capitalize on their potential was
Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) when it launched its platform API on February 7, 2000,
just about a year into its inception, according to the History of APIs
(http://dtn.fm/8OWAy). That API strategy is partly responsible for the
company’s present market cap of $48 billion.
Other
industry titans subsequently embarked on the API adventure. In June 2005, the
Google (NASDAQ: GOOG; GOOGL) Maps API made its appearance. And in 2006,
Facebook (NASDAQ: FB), Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) launched
their APIs. The ecommerce giant’s API portal is called Amazon Web Services.
Just
like these successful companies have, Monaker aims to build a healthy ecosystem
around its MBE and NextTrip platform. NextTrip is an intuitive, fully
comprehensive booking platform for hotels, resorts, vacation rental homes,
timeshare rentals, airlines, cruises, tours & land packages, and rental
cars. Apart from NextTrip, Monaker’s travel assets now include Maupintour, with
over 65 years in tour-guided vacations; Voyage.TV, with its thousands of hours
of travel footage shot in over 30 countries around the world; and
AlwayOnVacation, with its 250,000 listed properties. With the launch of its
API, Monaker is poised for a further stage of development.
For
more information, visit www.MonakerGroup.com
About
MissionIR
MissionIR is committed to connecting the investment community with companies that have great potential and a strong dedication to building shareholder value. We know our reputation is based on the integrity of our clients and go to great lengths to ensure the companies represented adhere to sound business practices.
Sign up for “The Mission Report” at www.MissionIR.com
Please see disclaimer on the MissionIR website http://www.missionir.com/disclaimer.html
MissionIR is committed to connecting the investment community with companies that have great potential and a strong dedication to building shareholder value. We know our reputation is based on the integrity of our clients and go to great lengths to ensure the companies represented adhere to sound business practices.
Sign up for “The Mission Report” at www.MissionIR.com
Please see disclaimer on the MissionIR website http://www.missionir.com/disclaimer.html
