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Archive Category: In-flight

Boeing, Intel boost in-flight wireless Internet

In-flight wireless Internet service is now available on more than 100 flights a day throughout the world, but the technology is still facing regulatory problems in the United States. Perhaps a new marketing agreement this week between Connexion by Boeing and Intel will help break the bureaucratic and political logjam and connectivity will soon be available to airline passengers in North America.

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Ericsson introduces in-flight GSM phones

STOCKHOLM -- Ericsson today introduced its newly developed system GSM on aircraft, allowing passengers to use their mobile phones on board commercial aircrafts while in flight. The new equipment works with GSM technology, used almost everywhere in Europe and by Cingular and T-Mobile in the U.S. It does not support the CDMA technology used by U.S. wireless operators Verizon Wireless and Sprint.

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In-flight Internet for 200,000 Siemens employees

NEW YORK -- With 200,000 employees who travel on business, the electronics and engineering firm Siemens AG has signed on as the first global customer of Connexion by Boeing for real-time high-speed in-flight Internet. the new service is being marketed for its cost-saving benefits and for enabling business travelers to use flight time as if they were in the office.

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AA, Qualcomm demonstrate in-flight phones

FORT WORTH, Texas -- American Airlines and Qualcomm are reporting a successful demonstration of in-cabin voice communications using commercially available CDMA mobile phones on a commercial aircraft. Through the use of an in-cabin third-generation (3G) “picocell” network, passengers on the test flight were able to place and receive calls as if they were on the ground.

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Boeing, StarHub to study linking in-flight access

SINGAPORE -- Connexion by Boeing and StarHub, Singapore's leading communications provider, have signed a memorandum of understanding for an associate service provider agreement that will add the Connexion by Boeing real-time, high-speed Internet service to StarHub's wireless broadband services portfolio. The two companies said customers will benefit from a simplified billing process.

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Boeing announces pricing for in-flight Internet

SEATTLE -- After a couple of years of planning and testing, pricing for in-flight Internet access has been announced, and it's surprisingly inexpensive. Connexion by Boeing has released pricing details for its high-speed in-flight Internet service scheduled to become commercially available this spring, at just under US$30 for international flights and 30-minutes for US$10.

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March 18, 2004 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Boeing, T-Systems explore in-flight WLAN link

HANOVER, Germany -- T-Systems' carrier division, International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS) and Connexion by Boeing will jointly explore linking the Connexion service to T-Systems' WLAN Roaming Platform.

By connecting to the platform, Connexion by Boeing would offer real-time access to the Internet and corporate intranets to airline travelers whose mobile service provider is also connected to T-Systems' WLAN Roaming Platform when they fly on airlines with the Connexion system onboard. This would provide existing T-Systems customers with streamlined billing, customer support and in-flight access to the Internet.

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January 2, 2004 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

China Airlines latest to announce in-flight Internet

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- For in-flight, real-time Internet access, 2003 was a breakthrough year with many major airlines either launching or announcing plans for this new service for passengers. The new year starts off with China Airlines announcing intentions bring high-speed Internet connectivity to travelers on China Airlines commercial flights in and out of Taiwan.

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December 1, 2003 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

In-flight Internet service takes a step forward

WALTHAM, Mass. -- In-flight Internet connections have been talked about and seriously promised for a couple of years. But, there have been problems -- regulatory, technical and financial. Now, it looks like a significant step forward is being taken toward what could become the next big thing in airline services to passengers.

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August 14, 2003 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Britannia Airways wireless wins Sybase award

LONDON — The wireless system sold by LogicaCMG to Britannia Airways, enabling cabin crew and pilots to access flight and company information via a personal digital assistant (PDA), has been awarded the Sybase 2003 Innovator Award for Mobile Solutions. LogicaCMG currently has over 2,300 users for its wireless system that reduces the need for paper-based processes allowing flight, roster, passenger, health and safety information to be captured quickly, reducing the time taken for crew to check in.

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July 2, 2003 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Scandinavian Airlines to offer in-flight wireless

STOCKHOLM -- Scandinavian Airlines has signed a contract with Connexion by Boeing for the installation of wireless broadband on board. Installation will begin in February 2004 and the entire long-haul fleet will be equipped a year later, the airline announced.

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June 17, 2003 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

United Airlines, Airfone launch in-flight e-mail

CHICAGO -- United Airlines and Verizon Airfone have launched what is described as the first U.S. commercial carrier to offer Verizon Airfone JetConnect service, with two-way e-mail capability, on its U.S. domestic flights.

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June 4, 2003 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Boeing, Lufthansa cleared for in-flight wireless

SEATTLE -- Boeing and Lufthansa Technik have received industry-leading aircraft certifications from the German aviation authorities (LBA) and the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) that will enable the use of airborne wireless applications on select commercial flights using the Connexion by Boeing mobile information service. The groundbreaking rulings pave the way for passengers to use their own IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi devices within the airline cabin environment.

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March 13, 2003 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

In-flight e-mail offered on Cathay Pacific Airways

HONG KONG -- Cathay Pacific Airways, PCCW Netvigator, and Tenzing Communications have announced a new partnership to offer the Netvigator Inflight e-mail service. The service will initially be offered on a free trial basis until June to passengers on 42 Cathay Pacific aircraft, over half of the airline's fleet. The entire Cathay Pacific fleet will be equipped with the service by the end of 2003, the company said.

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January 15, 2003 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Lufthansa launches in-flight Internet access

FRANKFURT -- Some 70 years after a passenger on a flight from Berlin to Vienna sent the first radio telegram, a new era in in-flight communications began today as commercial airline passengers experienced broadband internet access for the first time.

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December 5, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Boeing set to launch in-flight Internet service

SEATTLE -- Real-time Internet and in-flight corporate intranet access provided by Connexion by Boeing for international business travelers may give a new meaning to the term "telecommuter." Boeing has extended its relationship with Cable & Wireless, enlisting the company to provide professional services including network and security architecture design support.

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November 21, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

SAS signs with Boeing for mobile communications

COPENHAGEN -- Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) and Connexion by Boeing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will make the flag-carrier a significant international customer for the high-speed mobile information services provider.

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November 6, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

First in-flight e-mail on commercial flight sent

SEATTLE -- Lufthansa and Boeing have announced the first e-mail sent by in-flight broadband Internet connection on a scheduled commercial airliner. On Friday, Oct. 25, 2002 aboard the Lufthansa 747-400, "Sachsen-Anhalt," members of the Lufthansa and Connexion by Boeing project team simultaneously activated the onboard system and the satellite network for the first time and sent the historic transmission.

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July 25, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Boeing signs Germany, Japan for in-flight Net

FARNBOROUGH, UK -- The German government has cleared the way for the introduction of in-flight broadband Internet services to air travelers beginning next January by authorizing Boeing to use a range of radio frequencies for its revolutionary Connexion by Boeing service.

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June 17, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

British Airways joins in-flight Internet trials

LONDON -- British Airways, the largest European airline, has joined Lufthansa for trials of in-flight broadband Internet services provided by Connexion by Boeing. The move by British Airways is good news for Boeing after the three largest US airlines pulled out of the project to develop onboard Internet services.

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May 7, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

FAA certifies Boeing for in-flight broadband

SEATTLE -- Connexion by Boeing has met Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements and been granted certification of the airborne communication network that will bring mobile information services to airlines and their passengers. This type of certification grant is the first of its kind for a broadband service linking satellite-based resources and ground networks to commercial aircraft during flight.

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April 25, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Tenzing showcases first in-flight two-way SMS

SEATTLE -- Tenzing Communications has announced the first successful live demonstration of airborne two-way short messaging service to mobile phones worldwide. Onboard a demonstration flight of a new Airbus 340-600 aircraft from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, David Trowern, engineering vice president of Tenzing, exchanged SMS messages with several friends and colleagues across the United States and the United Kingdom. 

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February 21, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

SITA and Comfone develop in-flight phones

CANNES -- SITA and Comfone, the Swiss based supplier of roaming services to mobile network operators, have taken a step forward in the development of in-flight communications with the signing of a contract that is designed to make paying for on-board phone calls easier for airline passengers. Both companies are exhibiting and participating in the 3GSM World Congress this week.

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February 10, 2002 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Alaska Airlines prints boarding pass in flight 

SEATTLE -- Alaska Airlines and Boeing came up with another use for the Connexion by Boeingservice during a recent demonstration flight, suggesting new ways this technology could be used to enhance customer service. 

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November 27, 2001 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

VARIG, Tenzing launch in-flight e-mail and Web

SEATTLE -- VARIG Airlines and Tenzing Communications announced the launch of Tenzing’s e-mail and Web service on VARIG Airlines. Brazil's VARIG, South America's largest airline, installed the Tenzing service on the first of its fleet of six new Boeing 777 aircraft, which will enable VARIG Airlines passengers to send and receive e-mail while in flight. 

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November 14, 2001 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

ViaSat licenses SSH secure wireless for aircraft

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- ViaSat has licensed SSH's IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) technology for use in advanced digital satellite telecommunications and wireless signal processing equipment aboard commercial aircraft.

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October 23, 2001 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Despite airline difficulties, in-flight Internet will grow

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Despite current financial difficulties facing the airline and travel industries, long-term growth prospects for in-flight Internet to airline service remain viable, according to a market research report from Northern Sky Research. The report, entitled Internet Service to Airlines: Will the Service Take Off?, forecasts Internet to airline usage and subscriber revenues via an in-depth bottom-up top down methodology, assesses chances of success for the industry as a whole and for individual Internet to airline service providers, and examines service providers and technologies. 

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September 30, 2001 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Airfone drops price for in-flight call after terrorism

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Following a sharp decrease in business after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, GTE Airfone is temporarily discounting its air to ground phone service. 

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September 20, 2001 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Pentar Avionics upgrades box for in-flight Internet

SEATTLE -- Pentar Avionics, a leading manufacturer of aircraft data communication and management products, has announced the availability of a new airborne network server called the JetLAN XP. The company describes it as a high speed "office in the sky."

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September 10, 2001 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Matsushita streams in-flight news from Reuters

Matsushita Avionics Systems (MAS), a leading supplier of in-flight entertainment systems will soon deliver real-time breaking news from Reuters and NewsEdge to airline passengers around the world. These new services will be offered through MASMedia, Matsushita Avionics Systems' interactive applications business.

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August 23, 2001 | Permalink | m-Travel.com

Tenzing fits Cathay with in-flight e-mail and Web

SEATTLE -- Tenzing Communications, a global communications provider for frequent business travelers, has announced the first ever delivery of an Airbus commercial airplane fitted with Tenzing global in-flight e-mail and Web services.

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