RSS
Twitter
Airborne Internet Making Another Comeback, But Will It Fly This Time?
from the holding-pattern dept
In-flight internet service on commercial planes is an idea that's been kicking around for a really long time. But despite all the apparent interest in the service, nobody's yet made it a successful business. Previous attempts have been dogged by high installation and service costs for airlines, which turned into high prices for end users that dampen enthusiasm and uptake. But in-flight internet access is apparently going to make another comeback early next year. A company called AirCell says its in-flight WiFi system costs just $100,000 per plane, weighs just 100 pounds and can be installed overnight -- all important factors for airlines. It's also offering airlines a cut of the service fees it collects, and says it won't charge user more then $10 per day and will have roaming deals with popular hotspot networks. These all sound like significant improvements over previous failed efforts, and it uses air-to-ground radios instead of pricey satellite links. AirCell says it will block VoIP calls on the system -- though it's probably not to stave off complaints about chatty passengers, but rather because it also wants to provide paid in-flight cell phone service. Its efforts to make in-flight mobile phone use legal have stalled, so it's now focusing on the internet aspect. While the company certainly appears to stand a better chance of success than earlier attempts at in-flight connectivity, the question remains of just how real the demand for such services is, and how willing travelers will be to pay for it.
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
"AirCell says it will block VoIP calls"
LOL - Good luck with that.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Blocking
What about Voice IM????
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Hmm
VOIP can work on port 80 so can it still be blocked?
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Routers can do more than just block ports. I'm sure you could get past the block if you wanted to, but they could make it non-trivial for the average user to do so, effectively blocking most calls, and flight attendants can ask anyone persistent enough to get past the block to stop.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Airborne Internet
Air-to-ground works well over ground, but has a little problem over oceans - where the longer flights are longer and busiess market larger...
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
WIFI ON AIRPLANES
It's never going to be a revenue generator until 1) laptop batteries actually last more than a few hours and/or 2) all airplanes install electrical outlets in every row, for laptop users to juice up. Without juice, wifi is useless.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Airborne Internet
I believe I would be interested in the service, however, I believe the limitations will definately be battery life and cost. If the cost is too much then customers wont pay. and if they do not make power available then it will fail.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
I don't think the market is there for in-flight internet access.
Companies most often will not approve expense reports for "internet" connections. Even in hotels that charge $10+ for 1 day access to the internet from your room. If a company won't approve a $10 expense when you're in a hotel, they certainly won't approve an expense for "internet" connection on a plane. So, until approving this type of expense is a generally accepted practice...or the price to connect is so cheap, expensing it doesn't matter, business users won't be using the service except on an exception basis. Similar to the phones on planes.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
VoIP be gone
Stateful packet inpection firewall
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
In-flight Internet access is needed technology and will (hopefully) stop efforts to have in-flight cell phone availability! I fly monthly overseas for business. Having e-mail and browsing capability will improve productivity several fold and would be happy to pay for the service. Count me in.
(reply to this comment) (link to this comment)
Add Your Comment