A Kerala IT company claims to have developed a new generation air cargo software solution where three foreign aviation companies have failed in the past.

IBS Software Service, a premier IT company of the state based at the Technopark here, has developed (iCargo), an integrated multi-hosting system to address cargo reservations, capacity control, rating, local planning, terminal operations and freight forwarding requirements of cargo-carrying airlines.

"Seven years ago there were three attempts to develop such software by a South African company, a Scandinavian firm and British Airways, but after spending close to $30 million each, they failed", V.K. Mathews, chairman and managing director of IBS, told reporters Thursday.

The new software would enable airline companies to get all details of cargo at the click of a mouse, helping to ease customs formalities for the both the consignor and consignee.

Mathews said one reason why IBS had succeeded was new technology and new methodology that has cost $20 million.

"We have been working on this product since 2002 and now we have finished the work. To test this new product we have signed up with Gulf Air, Air New Zealand Cargo and South African Airways Cargo," he said.

Hugh Pride, the cargo programme director at IBS, said the first release of the new generation cargo software would be held by the year-end, followed by the second release in September next year and the final one in the first quarter of 2007.

"The support of the three airline companies would help us since we have signed them up and they would eventually buy our product. And through this, in five years we expect to close the deal with 15 leading airlines in the world."