I've written a couple of times previously about farecast.com, whose online service has helped me save money by predicting accurately whether plane tickets would be going up or down. Mike Fridgeon, Farecast VP marketing pinged me this morning to let me know it upgraded its site with a whole lot more traveler's options, such as alternative airports, one-way, cabin class, eliminating dreaded red-eyes and filtering out tight connections.
In features and options, this new rev has pulls it ahead of Orbitz and kayak.com , not to mention it's primary asset of telling you whether its wise to buy your ticket now or later. Farecast's frosting is that it tells you whether plane tickets are going up or down with about 75% (audited) accuracy and they'll even sell you insurance to cover if they are wrong. Personally, I think Farecast has a prettier face than Orbitz and other competitors.
Founded last August, Farecast claims over three million visitors. According to Mike, the service has saved people $10 million as a direct result of its predictions.
I believe that online predictive technology, another infant industry is going to emerge with speed in numerous areas in the coming months. For example, I'm working with a San Francisco company, My-Currency, which has not yet launched. My-Currency will help prospective home buyers determine whether the price of houses for sale in a particular neighborhood will be rising or falling in coming months.
