In-Flight Internet Access Finally Taking Off
March 12 2008 / by Venessa Posavec / In association with Future Blogger.net
Category: The Web Year: 2008 Rating: 5
Tired of those boring, cramped 4-hour flights? Wish you could be more productive or at least distracted? You’ll be glad to know that the in-flight internet connections that have been hyped over the past year are finally on the verge of reality.
Several companies are locked in a race to be first to offer
the service with airlines. In a matter of months, we’ll be able to
surf the web from land or sky.
Panasonic Avionics is on the verge of penning a deal with a yet-to-be-disclosed airline to offer wireless service via satellite. Their rates are a bit steep at $5.95 per half-hour of access, but because they connect to satellites instead of towers on the ground, internet would be available during trips across the ocean.
Airborne telecommunications company Aircell has developed an innovative new wireless broadband system, delivered at speeds that will supposedly be comparable with what we experience on the ground. What makes them different is that the signal is transmitted from air to ground using cellular towers, verse connecting to satellites. Their service, called Gogo, will take its maiden voyage with American Airlines in the spring, and with Virgin American later this year. It will be available on only a few select cross-country routes for now through AA (New York to San Fransisco, Los Angeles, and Miami), at a fee of around $13 for the entire duration of the trip. This looks to be the front-runner at this point.
Finally, there’s Westlake Village startup Row44, who is using Hughes’ Ku-band satellite system to deliver broadband service. They’ve already teamed up with Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines, and plan to begin testing the service by this summer. They plan to offer unlimited PDA access for $5.99, and unlimited laptop access for $7.99
When it becomes clear that one of these service models is bringing in enough revenue, we can expect airborne connectivity to take off in a big way. I for one will be relieved when that day comes. And it’s coming soon.
Comment Thread (2 Responses)
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Sweet. Now I’ll be able to ignore my cramped frame and get lost in the digital world… This will be great for business trips and especially those extra long overseas flights. I’ll gladly pay for the connectivity and mental freedom.
Posted by: Alvis Brigis March 13, 2008
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yea, except for the fact that your nosy neighbor sans laptop will be watching your every move thanks to the sardine seating… I’ll admit that I’d still pay, though!
Posted by: Fishka March 13, 2008
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