In-flight WiFi: The Jaunted Guide to Airborne Internet
12/13/2007 at 9:35 AM
Tags: In-Flight WiFi, WiFi, JetBlue, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Virgin America (all tags)
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.
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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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