Singapore Airlines first with in-flight IPTV
posted Jul 12th 2005 11:35AM
Singapore Airlines launched the very first in-flight IPTV service this past weekend, using Boeing's Connexion in-flight WiFi technology to offer passengers four channels of programming over the plane's wireless network. Before you get too excited (assuming you even get excited about the prospect of in-flight IPTV), note that you do need to use your own WiFi-enabled laptop to access the service (plans to integrate the service into seatback displays are in the works), and it's not clear whether they're pulling programming live over a satellite connection or just streaming content that's stored (or perhaps cached) on a media server on the plane (like the video on demand system Microsoft developed earlier this year). Either way we ain't gonna knock it, anything that gives us an alternative to paging through the SkyMall catalog for the 100th time is fine by us.
The only catch... None of the programming is in English. Ha.
english is the primary language in singapore.
probably locally stored programming. but i bet there's a bunch of it.
i love SQ!!
sky suite...yummm....cant wait to stream tv (hopefully live) over my laptop. sq is always the forefront in the airline industry
Let's here it for Singapore ! But maybe that's the 'Tiger' beer talking...
Cool though it is, I think this concept might be intrisicly flawed. It can only work , in my estimation, if not too many people use it. The airwaves within the plane become one big hub. How many independant streams can you have befor ethe bandwidth is so devided tha tthe streaming either doesn't work or the quality suffers excessively ?
Maybe they cap the number of streamers at one time, or their demographic research shows there will never be enough users at one time to present a problem.
Singapore Airlines already has displays in every seat. With lots of TV channels, movies, and NES games.
What's the point of streaming the video?
Gotta say while IPTV is cool but why settle for that when you can fly with Westjet and get free live satellite TV...
>> The only catch... None of the programming is in English. Ha. <<
Talk about being ignorant. English is the official language of Singapore.
Regarding IPTV on the flights, last time I flew SIA the in-flight entertainment had *60* movies on demand in every seat. There are also TV shows (not live) and Super Nintendo games.
I commend the move, but honestly, the 4 channels of IPTV would be completely gratuitous.
'The only catch... None of the programming is in English. Ha.'
You are obviously not very intelligent are you?.
Singapore Air puts US airlines to shame in terms of onboard facilities & service
WestJet offers 24 channels of live Bell Express View satelite on many of its flights in Canada. The screens on the back of the seats are so small but its still a pretty cool set up! Nice feature for a discount airline too!
This proves the fact that SIA is the best airlines in the world! I used to live in Singapore and miss their fantastic and friendly customer services...all the American airlines are horrible compared to the international airlines (SIA)...
iRR
Thanks for your endorsement of SkyMall. We always knew passengers read our pub over and over, cover to cover. Unfortunately, we're not on Singapore Airlines, one of the few.
now if only you can charge your laptop via the seat in ECONOMY it might be worth it. *sigh*.
also singapore airport needs more power points.
The Singapore Airport Terminal 2 is currently undergoing major renovations btw,so you might have more power outlets.They also have wireless connection for free(Me likes) and it is also the best airport in The world(From Skytrax or some other mag).
"This proves the fact that SIA is the best airlines in the world! I used to live in Singapore and miss their fantastic and friendly customer services...all the American airlines are horrible compared to the international airlines (SIA)..."
"Singapore Air puts US airlines to shame in terms of onboard facilities & service"
Thanks for the good comments on my country's national airline.
Do you also know that Singapore just hosted the 117th IOC Session
hmm, IPTV over WiFi... Must be realted to this...
http://www.boeing.com/connexion/news/eupdate/2005/mar.html
Looks like Boeing might be sending live or cached TV over thier network soon. Sounds good to me...
The TV is indeed "live" and not pre-recorded content. The bandwidth is also constant regardless of how many people are watching.
I didn't have much luck with the power receptacles in business class when using my laptop (kept getting a red light) so they may or may not work for you.