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In-flight WiFi: The Jaunted Guide to Airborne Internet

December 13, 2007 at 9:35 AM | 1 Comment

The race is on to deliver broadband and wireless internet to the American flying public, and while we've heard plenty of talk, the action is unfolding at a pace that make our old dial-up connection seem downright speedy. Of the four major carriers announcing plans to launch on-board services in the US next year or so, only JetBlue has scheduled actual Internet-ready flights--and the execution, while laudable, was a bit underwhelming.

Yeah, yeah, we know. This is new technology and getting connected--and staying connected--will probably take some time. From the looks of things, it could be well over a year (or even two) before we can watch an entire YouTube video at 35,000 feet, or even send an email with an attachment. Until the dream becomes a reality, we'll just have to subsist on press releases and promises alone.

While we wait, we've put together a guide to all the airlines working on in-flight WiFi. After the jump, what to expect, how it works and when to expect it.

JetBlue
The Promise: Messaging and email via Wi-Fi-enabled Blackberries and laptops. Rather than the internet at large, you'll get a streamlined version of Yahoo Mail and Yahoo Messenger. Sadly for all of you early adoptors, the iPhone is off-limits since it doesn't have separate Wi-Fi and cellular on-off switches.

Ready when? Now, but just on a single Airbus A320 (a trial aircraft called "BetaBlue") wired for email and instant messaging services above 10,000 feet.

Provided by? LiveTV, a wholly owned subsidiary of JetBlue that won rights to a slice of the 800-MHz spectrum last year.

Verdict: We can't use Gmail? Can't liveblog? The lack of options is almost enough to put us off our Terra Blues. At least it's free.

American Airlines
The Promise: Broadband Internet service for passengers with a cable or DSL-like internet connection, VPN access, as well as email through Wi-Fi enabled laptops and PDAs. Unlike JetBlue's service which exclusively favors Yahoo, AA's in-flight internet will allow you to connect to all email and IM accounts.

Ready when? The airline will begin testing its Wi-Fi on a Boeing 767-200 transcontinental aircraft sometime in 2008, with a full launch to follow.

Provided by? Air Cell, a global airline telecom provider that won the FCC's exclusive air-to-ground 3 megahertz broadband frequency license last summer.

Verdict: We'll get full web access, but still don't have any way to charge our laptops mid-flight. How 'bout some outlets back here in coach?

Alaska Airlines
The Promise: You'll be able to use your Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, PDAs, smartphones and portable gaming systems to get high-speed access to the Internet, e-mail, VPNs and stored in-flight entertainment content.

Ready when? The company is doing a trial run in Spring 2008, and if all goes well, will roll it out to the entire 114-plane fleet in 2009.

Provided by? Row 44; unlike the AirCell's air-to-ground services, the company's satellite-based system is designed to function over land, water and across international borders, enabling service throughout North America.

Verdict: The satellite system could help to provide a stronger signal with fewer dropped connections. But 2009? Let's get the show on the road, already.

Virgin America
The Promise: A suite of broadband internet services including MSN, AIM, Yahoo and Google Talk and Skype, available through the in-flight entertainment system (known as RED) or through Wi-Fi enabled portable gaming devices, laptops, PDAs and smartphones.

Ready when? Sometime in 2008.

Provided by? AirCell's air-to-ground cellular network.

Verdict: We're gonna have to hear some guy dirty Skyping with his girlfriend from the next seat over? Let's hope Charles Ogilvie and his crew can come up with a way to make in-flight phone calls less annoying than we imagine.

Related Stories:
· Chatting on IM at 34,000 feet [Jaunted]
· In-flight Wifi coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Jeremy Johnstone, Yahoo! Inc.]

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Author Photo: The Lost Girl by The Lost Girl

1 Comment

Return to » In-flight WiFi: The Jaunted Guide to Airborne Internet

  1. Alex Sung

    Jaunted Member
    December 13, 2007 at 9:57 AM




    How bout no outlets.

    How 'bout some outlets back here in coach?

    Think about it....the energy to power those outlets has to come from somewhere - either battery or fuel.  And the more stuff on a plane, the worse the environmental damage...to add stuff without increasing the weight they'd have to take away even more luggage allowances.  I'm not seeing the good part in this.  Pre-charge your laptop or bring a spare battery yourself.  

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