Jaunted - Tag: row 44

In-Flight WiFi Meets SkyMall With New 'SkyTown Center' Service

kjb — 2009-10-13T11:13:36-05:00

It was only a matter of time before in-flight WiFi was used for evil. Well, not exactly, but we aren’t totally thrilled that we might be subjected to some hardcore in-flight advertising while we are trying to get some work done. There’s a new service called SkyTown Center and it’s sort of like an online version of the SkyMall catalog. Sure it will bring free WiFi to many passengers, but it will also bring loads of advertisements and access to websites only related to buying stuff.

Thankfully entertainment will also be built into the online shopping service so that passengers will be able to watch some TV, play some games, and read about where they are going. All this will be free, and probably filled with ads, but navigating away to check your email will cost you a little bit. Anything to keep people entertained—and hopefully quiet—in the cabin is a good idea.

The FCC Is Cool With Row 44's In-Flight WiFi Satellite System

kjb — 2009-08-07T08:37:30-05:00

Most of our in-flight WiFi coverage has been focused on Aircell and their Gogo Internet service. However, there is another kid on the block, and Row 44 has been trying their best to gain some market share.

It's too bad Row 44 has had a slower start than their competition; after all, they have been teasing us with their goods for some time. At least they have partners like Alaska Airlines and Southwest, so they definitely have attracted some big business.

WiFi Is Working on Alaska Airlines But How Much Would You Pay?

juliana — 2009-03-06T15:11:16-05:00

While we have no idea what the heck is up with Air Canada's WiFi, we do know that Alaska Airline's internet service is real and it is mostly spectacular. Harriet Baskas, who writes Stuck at the Airport tipped us off to her in-flight WiFi experience yesterday as she rode Alaska Airlines from Seattle to Orange County and back.

The first day online (courtesy of Row 44) wasn't worthy of any Branson-style celebrations and in fact, the only way passengers knew that the service was on the plane was by noticing the big WiFi decal plane by the door or if they read the card in the seatback pocket. However, those who used it seemed to like it very much:

Once folks did discover the service - which is complimentary during the test period - they used it, talked about it to their seatmates and across the aisles and, of course, sent e-mail messages: “Guess where I’m writing from.”
The service was a bit sluggish on the return trip, which got folks talking even more, but generally once travelers got connected, they seemed delighted to have this new amenity as an in-flight option.

Stuck at the Airport then wrote that the airline is asking travelers to fill out a survey with an important question being: "How much would you pay for this service?" Ah, a loaded question indeed.

Remember, Alaska Airlines Kicks Off Its WiFi Service Today

kjb — 2009-03-05T11:24:08-05:00

It’s only a matter of time before we’ll look back on the year that was, and realize that 2009 was the year of in-flight WiFi. We’ll start taking it for granted, complain that it’s too slow, and demand it on all flights. However, for now, we’ll take what we can get, but we’re getting one step closer today when Alaska Airlines starts their first WiFi flight.

If your traveling from Seattle down to San Jose today, then you’ll have a shot to test out the latest offering from Row 44. The WiFi service will be launched on Boeing 737-700 planes, so we’re thinking that it’s lucky Flight 328 that leaves Seattle at 2:20 PM, PT. As long as there’s no equipment swap, that’s the only flight between the two cities that will use that type of plane.

The service will be free for the first two months while they work out all the bugs, so if you’re on board there’s no reason not to check it out. Most importantly, if you are able to experience it first hand, you have to tell us. You can send a tweet, send a tip, or just throw a comment below. You’ll be our hero—at least for this week.

Related Stories:
·Alaska Airlines Offer In-Flight Wi-Fi [Coolest Gadgets]
·Alaska Air Starts WiFi Trials, Gives It Away For Free [Jaunted]
·Alaska Airlines coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Drewski2112]

Alaska Air Starts WiFi Trials, Gives It Away for Free

JetSetCD — 2009-03-02T09:41:13-05:00

Jumping on the WiFi bandwagon this week is Alaska Airlines as they just announced the beginning of a free, two-month trial period of in-flight WiFi aboard their Seattle-San Jose route. What, no WiFi trial on actual Alaska routes? That is so not fair.

With the intent of outfitting their entire fleet, save for poor Horizon Air, Alaska has tapped Row 44, who also hooked up the WiFi for Southwest; that makes two successful clients for the start-up. If we are to put any stock in an old Daily Wireless story, then pricing for WiFi use after the trial period will be staggered at "$10 for up to two hours, $15 for 2-5hr and $20 for more than 5hr," with a peak aircraft bandwidth of 35 Mbps.

For anyone who hits the jackpot in March or April by stumbling onto one of these rare trial flights, do enjoy the healthy 2 hours of Twittering and YouTube it'll afford you, and don't forget to tell us all about it.

Related Stories:
· In-Flight WiFi Q&A [Alaska Airlines]
· WiFi Coming to Alaska Air, free for now [Seattle Times]
· Southwest's InFlight Internet: Testing, Testing [Jaunted]
· In-Flight WiFi coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Drewski2112]

Dallas: Southwest's InFlight Internet: Testing, Testing

egw — 2009-02-10T12:39:57-05:00

UPDATE: Southwest's CEO Gary Kelly tested the in-flight WiFi today and sent out an email to his executive planning committee:

Y'all are my first email from SWA Wifi. It's awesome! Speed is good. Customers obviously luv it.

Even in the air, Keller stays on message.

Could you possible log on onboard in the No Hidden Fee Zone? Southwest Airlines announced today it will begin testing in-flight WiFi in conjunction with tech startup Row 44, with hopes to have 4 planes WiFi enabled by March. But where can we get it, and how much will it cost?

Along with the announcement Southwest posted a short video of digital addicts using Facebook and their iPhones on a test flight of unspecified destination. (You can't make a cell phone call, though.) They even showed off what we assume is Row 44's machinery at work, dubbed "Gadget 13," making this test the first in which we've actually seen the sausage being made, so to speak.

We dinged Row 44 for making a big splash at CES without any examples of its superiority over other in-flight wireless providers like Gogo. Now they're making good and, if the president's interview with the New York Times holds, may actually be undercutting the market with charges of $6 for handheld devices and $8 for laptops.

And while not all of Southwest's fee-conscious passengers will spring for that kind of extra, some will -- or rather, we would.

No routes were named as potentially WiFi ready, but looking into our crystal ball we foresee Internet popping up en route to Vegas, Chicago-Midway and Phoenix, their top three destinations (and two of which are cities included on the test flights today and tomorrow).

Row 44's CES Hype Doesn't Equal In-Flight Internet

pbb — 2009-01-12T12:30:47-05:00

In-flight WiFi provider Row 44 churned out the hype at this year's CES in Las Vegas, going so far as to bring a Grumman seaplane to host trial flights above the city for at least one journalist. But what would really impress us is if Row 44 could actually get its system up and running on a commercial flight.

See, Row 44 has been talking about how its satellite-based offering is superior to Gogo's cellular signal since at least 2007. But despite a promise from Southwest that planes would be internet-ready by 2008, we've yet to see that. Meanwhile, in September 2007, Alaska Airlines planned to have its whole 114-aircraft fleet outfitted by the end of 2009. At this point, one plane would be progress.

At CES, Row 44 claimed that trials on both airlines will start this month. But now that the company is officially the Thompson Hotels of airborne internet, we're not holding our breath. But with pricing rumored to be $6 for hand-held devicess and $8 for laptops, we'd love to give it a try. Maybe in 2010?

Related Stories:
· Row 44 Web Access for Airlines Gets a Test Flight [LA Times]
· Think the Guy in the Next Seat Is Annoying Now? [NYT Bits Blog]
· In-Flight WiFi: Best Amenity Ever Or Necessary Evil? [Jaunted]

[Photo: Marco Wessel]