JetBlue expands in-flight connectivity options on BetaBlue aircraft

During our time on JetBlue's BetaBlue aircraft, we came away mildly impressed with what was available. Thankfully, the airline isn't resting on its laurels, and has today announced expanded services for those lucky enough to secure a seat on the connected Airbus A320. By utilizing LiveTV's Kiteline platform, patrons can now check their Gmail, AOL Mail, Hotmail and Windows Live Mail from the comfort of their seat, and just in case you get bored with that, a "customized in-flight version of Amazon.com" will also be accessible. Yeah, we're talking really minor updates here, but at least the whole gamut of what's available is still totally free. Gratis and airlines just don't go together these days, so it's certainly a welcome change.

[Via Jaunted]

[erhan @ Jun 5th 2008 12:20AM]

WHAT!!! no pr0n??
I want to join the mile high club by myself..

[kjb434 @ Jun 4th 2008 3:54PM]

To be a part of that club, you have to do it with another person and not Rosie and her 5 friends in the bathroom or in your seat.

[MadMike @ Jun 4th 2008 4:04PM]

Airline bathrooms are REALLY uncomfortable and sometimes can smell really bad. An ex girlfriend and I tried to once. Didn't get too far. After 5 minutes it was like "okay, enough of this, we can wait till we get to the hotel"

But I like that T61 Tablet in the picture. I bet it costs an arm and a leg and a first born's first born's first born.

[MadMike @ Jun 4th 2008 4:06PM]

The service not the laptop. The laptop only costs $1,600 or so.

No edit button.... Blogsmithmedia you are killing us!

[keithwwalker @ Jun 4th 2008 3:43PM]

I was recently on a Beta Blue flight and was able to check my Yahoo mail, but that was about it, still with Direct TV and Satellite Radio, Jet Blue is putting the competition to shame - both in features and price point.

[tande @ Jun 4th 2008 3:57PM]

Exactly. I wish the airline wasn't so limited in what routes it takes but its all I'll take on my jaunts from Denver to Boston now.

Half the price of the others. 3x the amenities.

[dennis @ Jun 4th 2008 4:21PM]

I am now afraid of the day when I may have to fly on another airline than JetBlue.

I honestly feel that not having individual satellite TV and Cheese Munchies on an airplane is a sign of corporate cruelty. It's just wrong.

[dwr50 @ Jun 4th 2008 4:23PM]

I wouldn't be surprised if Jet Blue was selling user info to those that it supports.

[keithwwalker @ Jun 4th 2008 5:29PM]

creepy thing is, when you log into your mail account, it isn't the normal gateway, so they have the potential to be mining information...

[Josh @ Jun 5th 2008 6:44PM]

This is the generally available yahoo mobile interface. If you go to us.m.yahoo.com on the ground you will be presented with the same interface. There is definitely no mining of yahoo data going on. In fact despite limited bandwidth they are providing access to yahoo via https to ensure security.

[Galicki @ Jun 4th 2008 4:55PM]

Can anyone explain why the limited portal? Is this purely so people don't start visiting pr0n on an airplane or is there something different about the connection?

[DJZeratul @ Jun 4th 2008 5:04PM]

i wouldn't have minded being that guy forced to sit in the lavatory for his flight if i had some streaming fap material

[BorisBorf @ Jun 4th 2008 5:24PM]

"a 'customized in-flight version of Amazon.com' will also be accessible"

oh no... amazon's selection with skymall's prices. what a great way to turn something good into something bad.

[LaughingVulcan @ Jun 4th 2008 6:30PM]

"Totally free" - yeah, sure... TANSTAAFL, guys. There isn't any "gratis" when it comes to airlines; look for fares to go up if and when it gets deployed across their fleet. I say, "if," because does anyone remember how the Airphone was supposed to revolutionize air travel?

The only way it could not be supported by higher fares is *if* JetBlue manages to carve out a higher market share and/or fill more seats on their flights thanks to this thing, or if the whole operation is underwritten by the content providers.

Teh interwebs, though, this ain't.

[Pavan @ Jun 4th 2008 7:53PM]

The proper economic term is: TINSTAFL

[thegreatdestroyer @ Jun 4th 2008 8:38PM]

@Pavan

I believe he was referring to is "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TANSTAAFL

[Khan Kaan @ Jun 5th 2008 1:49AM]

I somehow find the word 'Beta' associated with an aircraft, a little unnerving.