Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Qantas trials in-flight WiFi between Australia and US]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/qantas-trials-in-flight-wifi-between-australia-and-us/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/qantas-trials-in-flight-wifi-between-australia-and-us/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/08/qantas-trials-in-flight-wifi-between-australia-and-us/#comments

While plenty of US domestic flights have their WiFi provisions sorted, international connectivity remains pretty rare. Attempting to bring another time-killing option alongside all those middling in-flight Marvel movies, Qantas has started testing wireless internet on its 14-hour flights between Los Angeles and Australia. The trial will run for eight weeks across six of Qantas' A380 super-jumbos. Access during the trial will be free, however it'll be limited to first and business class passengers, with data allowance currently capped at a weedy 100MB for laptops and 32MB for mobile devices. Well, at least you're not walled inside an online store.

Qantas trials in-flight WiFi between Australia and US originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 07:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellairlineairline industryAirlineIndustryairplaneairplanesaustraliainflight wifiInflightWifiinternational in-flight wifiInternationalIn-flightWifiminipostqantasUSwifiThu, 08 Mar 2012 07:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Gogo goes global: partnership with Inmarsat to give you the internet on international flights]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/gogo-goes-global-partnership-with-inmarsat-to-give-you-the-inte/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/gogo-goes-global-partnership-with-inmarsat-to-give-you-the-inte/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/gogo-goes-global-partnership-with-inmarsat-to-give-you-the-inte/#comments
Ahh, Gogo, what a fantastic addition you've been to domestic airline travel. Besides keeping rowdy kids entertained with internet access, it affords well-traveled tech bloggers the ability to do what we do at 30,000 feet. And now, Gogo's wondrous WiFi will do the same for international passengers thanks to Inmarsat's Global Xpress satellite internet service. The partnership adds speedy Ka-band satellite technology to Gogo's existing air-to-ground service starting in 2013. After launching the Inmarsat-5 satellite in midyear, up to 50Mb/s speeds will be at your flying fingertips in some (currently undefined) regions, with worldwide coverage coming in 2014. Full details of your inflight future await in the PR after the break.

Continue reading Gogo goes global: partnership with Inmarsat to give you the internet on international flights

Gogo goes global: partnership with Inmarsat to give you the internet on international flights originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellairlineairline industryAirlineIndustryairplaneairplanesglobal xpressGlobalXpressgogogogo inflightgogo wifiGogoInflightGogoWifiin-flightin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiinflight wifiInflightWifiinmarsatinmarsat global xpressInmarsatGlobalXpressinternationalsatellite internetSatelliteInternetwifiTue, 29 Nov 2011 13:24:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airlines rolls out in-flight Entertainment On Demand, lets you continue watching after you land]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/american-airlines-rolls-out-in-flight-entertainment-on-demand-l/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/american-airlines-rolls-out-in-flight-entertainment-on-demand-l/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/03/american-airlines-rolls-out-in-flight-entertainment-on-demand-l/#comments
American Airlines gives its Boeing 767-200 fleet all the love -- first it sends some 10.1-inch Galaxy Tabs through the gate, and now in-flight streaming videos get the all-clear to board. If you'll recall, AA's been testing Aircell (Gogo) in-flight video streaming, and now the service has gone live on 15 of the transcontinental wide-bodies flying New York to San Francisco or Los Angeles. You won't need to purchase in-flight WiFi to access Entertainment On Demand, but it currently only works on "select laptops," with rentals for television shows priced at $0.99 and movies at $3.99. You'll also be able to access your purchased TV and movie content on your device for 72 or 24 hours, respectively, if your flight soars into its destination ahead of time -- pickins' are quite slim, though, with only around 100 vids to choose from presently. The airline plans to add the service to all of its WiFi-enabled aircraft -- while also expanding device support -- beginning later this year. Fly on for a demo video and press release, parked just past the break.

Continue reading American Airlines rolls out in-flight Entertainment On Demand, lets you continue watching after you land

American Airlines rolls out in-flight Entertainment On Demand, lets you continue watching after you land originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>767767-200aaaircellAmerican AirlinesAmericanAirlinesboeingboeing 767boeing 767-200Boeing767Boeing767-200entertainmententertainment on demandEntertainmentOnDemandeodgogoGogo internetGogoInflightGogoInternetin-flight streamingin-flight wifiIn-flightStreamingIn-flightWifiinflight streamingInflightStreamingInFlightWifimoviesstreamingtelevisiontvvideovideo on demandVideoOnDemandWed, 03 Aug 2011 21:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Gogo launches in-air multimedia platform, details international expansion plans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/gogo-launches-in-air-multimedia-platform-details-international/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/gogo-launches-in-air-multimedia-platform-details-international/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/gogo-launches-in-air-multimedia-platform-details-international/#commentsIt's at least six months behind schedule at this point, but we guess late's better than even later. We'd known that Aircell Gogo (yeah, it's officially changed!) was aiming to get into the in-flight entertainment business, and today it's dishing the real dirt. It's hoping to "extend the company beyond internet connectivity," and apparently that means introducing an in-air multimedia platform. Per the company, it'll allow users to tap into "real-time travel information, destination content, news / information and exclusive shopping deals" right within their web browser, and it'll also give airlines the opportunity to offer passengers access to the latest movies and TV shows through Gogo's new streaming video product. We're guessing that last bit is what'll make legacy outfits think twice before shelling out for another round of Panasonic in-seat head units, particularly since there's no air-to-ground connectivity needed.

Even today, average JPEGs are compressed when downloaded and uploaded through Gogo, making it just about impossible for folks who actually work with images to get anything finalized in the sky. Upon hearing of its initial plans, we wondered one thing: if Gogo can't handle uncompressed JPEGs, how the heck is your streaming video going to look with every other middle-seater trying to load the latest episode of Weeds? Thankfully, our fears were pushed aside after hearing that the IFE portion (read: the service that serves up multimedia) will be locally based on the plane, with an undisclosed protocol pushing material from the cockpit to your display. Executives confirmed that the goal is to serve an entire plane, but it sounds as if there will certainly be some limits in place at first -- though, unless the entire plane hops onboard with the new program on Day 1, it probably won't become an issue.

Read on for more...

Continue reading Gogo launches in-air multimedia platform, details international expansion plans

Gogo launches in-air multimedia platform, details international expansion plans originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellgogoideoin flight entertainmentin-air entertainmentIn-airEntertainmentin-flightin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiInFlightEntertainmentinternationalinternetwifiThu, 14 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Boingo teams with Gogo for in-flight internet magic, leaves us wanting more]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/boingo-teams-with-gogo-for-in-flight-internet-magic-leaves-us-w/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/boingo-teams-with-gogo-for-in-flight-internet-magic-leaves-us-w/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/27/boingo-teams-with-gogo-for-in-flight-internet-magic-leaves-us-w/#comments So, here's the good news: Boingo Wireless has teamed up with Aircell, a company that provides WiFi in the skies. Now, the bad news: it barely matters. At first blush, we assumed a Boingo / Gogo tie-up would allow monthly subscribers to the former to get gratis access to the latter; in fact, that's not at all the case. According to the release (shown in full after the break), in-flight access "is a premium service and is not included in monthly plans," and in fact, there's not even a discount given to Boingo subscribers. The point here? To make billing even easier, since you're logging in with your Boingo credentials. Gee, thanks.

Continue reading Boingo teams with Gogo for in-flight internet magic, leaves us wanting more

Boingo teams with Gogo for in-flight internet magic, leaves us wanting more originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellboingogogoin-flightin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiwifiwireless internetWirelessInternetMon, 27 Jun 2011 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airlines testing in-flight media streaming, staying curiously mum about content selection]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/04/american-airlines-testing-in-flight-media-streaming-staying-cur/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/04/american-airlines-testing-in-flight-media-streaming-staying-cur/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/04/american-airlines-testing-in-flight-media-streaming-staying-cur/#commentsAmerican Airlines would like you to pay for movies and shows you're used to getting for free to give you a new way to keep yourselves entertained at 30,000 feet. The airline is testing Aircell's forthcoming service that will let you stream flicks and TV programs to your own WiFi-enabled device. Aircell, the company behind Gogo in-flight WiFi, is curating the library of content, and for now, it's unclear just how extensive the selection will be (last time we checked, the company was staying mum about content partners). And we definitely wonder how smooth the streaming will be on a crowded flight full of web surfers... you know, considering that Gogo already compresses JPEGs on everyday websites. And really, it had better be -- otherwise, you're better off with the complimentary shows and movies bundled into that built-in entertainment center right in front of you. All questions that will get answered when the service launches this fall.

Continue reading American Airlines testing in-flight media streaming, staying curiously mum about content selection

American Airlines testing in-flight media streaming, staying curiously mum about content selection originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 May 2011 13:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AircellAmerican AirlinesAmericanAirlinesGOGOGoGo inflightGoGo internetGogoInflightGogoInternetinflightinflight entertainmentinflight streaminginflight WiFiInflightEntertainmentInflightStreamingInflightWifistreamingtestingWed, 04 May 2011 13:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Aircell announces world's first 'airborne smartphone']]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/aircell-annnounces-worlds-first-airborne-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/aircell-annnounces-worlds-first-airborne-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/25/aircell-annnounces-worlds-first-airborne-smartphone/#comments No, you won't be able to use it on your next flight, but if you're lucky enough to have your own business jet, you will soon be able to get Aircell's new Android-based smartphone designed for aircraft use. While the company's staying fairly mum on specifics at the moment, the phone is said to pack a 3.8-inch capacitive display, and it's designed to be backwards-compatible with all Aircell Axxess communications systems currently in production, as well as its forthcoming Gogo Biz Voice service. No word on pricing just yet, but Aircell is promising to reveal that sometime before the phone launches in "late 2011." Head on past the break for the full press release.

Continue reading Aircell announces world's first 'airborne smartphone'

Aircell announces world's first 'airborne smartphone' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellaircell smartphoneAircellSmartphoneaircraftandroidbusiness aircraftbusiness jetBusinessAircraftBusinessJetjetsmartphoneFri, 25 Mar 2011 02:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Aircell releases GoGo tech roadmap: EV-DO Rev B in 2012, global satellite coverage by 2015]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/10/aircell-releases-gogo-tech-roadmap-ev-do-rev-b-in-2012-global/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/10/aircell-releases-gogo-tech-roadmap-ev-do-rev-b-in-2012-global/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/10/aircell-releases-gogo-tech-roadmap-ev-do-rev-b-in-2012-global/#comments
Aircell started putting its air-to-ground (ATG) mobile broadband technology in planes about three years ago, and its GoGo in-flight internet's reach has grown ever since -- all the way up to the home of mavericks and mama bears. Presently, the company's ambit is limited to the continental US, but that's about to change with the addition of Ka-band satellite coverage that will blanket the US in 2013 and the globe by 2015. Yes, dear readers, that means you'll be able to poke, tweet, and blog your way over international waters. Not only that, next year a new ATG-4 network using EV-DO Rev B promises four times the capacity of its trusty Rev A service we've come to know and love. The company says both upgrades are cheap and easy for carriers -- if only they were rapid as well. PR's after the break.

Continue reading Aircell releases GoGo tech roadmap: EV-DO Rev B in 2012, global satellite coverage by 2015

Aircell releases GoGo tech roadmap: EV-DO Rev B in 2012, global satellite coverage by 2015 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellEV-DO rev aev-do rev bEv-doRevAEv-doRevBevdo rev aevdo rev bEvdoRevAEvdoRevBgogogogo inflightGogoInflightin flight wifiinflight satellite internetInflightSatelliteInternetInFlightWifiinternetKa bandKaBandrev arev bRevARevBsatellite internetSatelliteInternetThu, 10 Mar 2011 16:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Gogo plans to expand into in-flight movies, possibly gaming]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/gogo-plans-to-expand-into-in-flight-movies-possibly-gaming/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/gogo-plans-to-expand-into-in-flight-movies-possibly-gaming/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/gogo-plans-to-expand-into-in-flight-movies-possibly-gaming/#commentsThere's not a lot of firm details just yet, but the CEO of Gogo's parent company, Aircell, has just confirmed that GoGo is planning to take a few steps beyond it's basic in-flight WiFi business this year. That will apparently start with a library of in-flight movies that customers will have access to "later this year," and could eventually expand to other in-flight content including "live gaming." No word on any content partners involved in any of those plans, but CEO Michael Small says that he believes content has the potential to be a" significant" revenue source for the company. Incidentally, this news coincided with GoGo's announcement of a $35 million boost from its latest round of funding and, as mocoNews reports, the company has apparently already hired "a number of executives from internet companies" to help it with its new content offerings.

Gogo plans to expand into in-flight movies, possibly gaming originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellgogogogo inflightGogoInflightin-flightin-flight contentin-flight moviesin-flight wifiIn-flightContentIn-flightMoviesIn-flightWifiMichael SmallMichaelSmallmoviesMon, 07 Feb 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Delta expands WiFi access to select regional jets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/delta-expands-wifi-access-to-select-regional-jets/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/delta-expands-wifi-access-to-select-regional-jets/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/30/delta-expands-wifi-access-to-select-regional-jets/#comments
Good news, frequent (and not so frequent) fliers. In addition to offering free Goggle-sponsored WiFi on its long-range flights this holiday season, Delta has announced plans to expand Gogo internet access to many of its regional jets, beginning in January. The company says that it should have this next wave of upgrades done by the end of 2011. This will definitely come as a relief to those of us who will be enjoying hours-long "regional" flights in the new year, either on Delta planes or those of its regional partners (including Shuttle America, Comair, and Atlantic Southeast). The expansion will apply only to aircraft with a first class cabin -- you know, the spacious compartment you pass through before being herded into the back with the rest of us schlubs.

Delta expands WiFi access to select regional jets originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircelldeltagogoin-flightin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiinternetweb browserWebBrowserwifiTue, 30 Nov 2010 21:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Alaska Airlines fires up in-flight WiFi between Anchorage and Fairbanks, promises more in 2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/alaska-airlines-fires-up-in-flight-wifi-between-anchorage-and-fa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/alaska-airlines-fires-up-in-flight-wifi-between-anchorage-and-fa/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/23/alaska-airlines-fires-up-in-flight-wifi-between-anchorage-and-fa/#comments It's hard to say if Alaska Airlines' relationship with Row44 has fizzled, but unlike that WiFi'd route between San Jose and Seattle, the aforesaid airline is relying on Aircell to provide in-flight WiFi on flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks. Reportedly, Gogo service is live today for customers flying between those two locales, with it being completely gratis until the remainder of Aircell's network in the state of Alaska goes live over the next few months. Best of all, Aircell has promised to "expand its network to include Southeast Alaska by the end of the year," ensuring that it's not The Last Frontier in absolutely every possible way.

Continue reading Alaska Airlines fires up in-flight WiFi between Anchorage and Fairbanks, promises more in 2011

Alaska Airlines fires up in-flight WiFi between Anchorage and Fairbanks, promises more in 2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellairplaneAlaskaAlaska airlinesAlaskaAirlinesAnchoragefairbanksgogoin-flightin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiinternetplanetravelwifiSat, 23 Oct 2010 01:03:00 EST<![CDATA[HasWiFi answers a vital question: does my flight have WiFi?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/haswifi-answers-a-vital-question-does-my-flight-have-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/haswifi-answers-a-vital-question-does-my-flight-have-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/12/haswifi-answers-a-vital-question-does-my-flight-have-wifi/#commentsIt's a resource we've all needed for years -- ever since Gogo began its quest to infiltrate each and every airline cabin in America in hopes of installing a router or two. HasWiFi is a simplistic (read: won't kill your mobile browser) site that serves one primary purpose: to tell you whether or not your upcoming flight will have sweet, succulent in-flight WiFi available. Better still, users can even vote Yes or No to whether their flight actually does have in-flight WiFi... you know, in case a carrier yanks it from one plane or installs it in another that's not listed. And if you're already down with TripIt, well, searching gets even easier. Head on over and punch in your next flight -- crossed fingers are highly recommended.

HasWiFi answers a vital question: does my flight have WiFi? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellairplanegogoin-flightin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiinternetrow44wifiTue, 12 Oct 2010 09:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Flexjet hooks private jet travelers up with free Gogo Biz in-flight WiFi, as well it should]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/11/flexjet-hooks-private-jet-travelers-up-with-free-gogo-biz-in-fli/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/11/flexjet-hooks-private-jet-travelers-up-with-free-gogo-biz-in-fli/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/11/flexjet-hooks-private-jet-travelers-up-with-free-gogo-biz-in-fli/#commentsHere's the deal: you're pouring out thousands on Flexjet's fractional aircraft program in order to get where you need to be, when you need to be there. The last thing you're looking for is another bill to ensure you're connected while jetting from point A to point Z. Thankfully, the aforesaid company has just inked a deal with Aircell that'll place Gogo Biz in-flight WiFi into each of its private jets at no additional cost to flyers -- a move that's likely meant to counter NetJets' recent announcement. Of course, that "annual price bump" will more than likely take care of things come December, but hey -- what's the use in filet mignon on a Challenger 300 when you can't tweet a picture of your indulgence? Exactly. Head on past the break for all the installation plans.

Continue reading Flexjet hooks private jet travelers up with free Gogo Biz in-flight WiFi, as well it should

Flexjet hooks private jet travelers up with free Gogo Biz in-flight WiFi, as well it should originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellaircraftairplaneBombardierbusinessFlexjetgogoGogo BizGogoBizin-flightin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiinternetplanewifiSat, 11 Sep 2010 11:16:00 EST<![CDATA[NetJets begins Aircell in-flight WiFi installations, won't stop anytime soon]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/netjets-begins-aircell-in-flight-wifi-installations-wont-stop/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/netjets-begins-aircell-in-flight-wifi-installations-wont-stop/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/netjets-begins-aircell-in-flight-wifi-installations-wont-stop/#commentsIt's one thing to expect in-flight WiFi on a commercial flight serving two or three hundred addicted peons, but how on Earth has it taken until now for NetJets to hop onboard this bandwagon? For those unaware, NetJets hosts the world's largest fractional fleet of business-oriented aircraft, and those that lay claim to portions of its herd are amongst the most wealthy this world has to offer. Currently, the outfit has just over 800 planes, and starting next month over 250 of them (in the midsize and large-cabin categories) will be equipped with Aircell's high speed internet service. In time, NetJets is planning to have "all future fleet aircraft, including light cabin models, delivered from the factory with high speed internet," and we're guessing that the jetsetters who drop the Benjamins to have their own plane are as anxious as ever for the future to be now. After all, who wouldn't want to tweet images of filet mignon from 35,000 feet?

Continue reading NetJets begins Aircell in-flight WiFi installations, won't stop anytime soon

NetJets begins Aircell in-flight WiFi installations, won't stop anytime soon originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellAirConditioningairplanesAirplaneSeatsAviationfloridagogoin-flightin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiinternetNetJetsplanewifiThu, 29 Jul 2010 20:37:00 EST<![CDATA[FaceTime video call works beautifully on airplane's in-flight WiFi (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/facetime-video-call-works-beautifully-on-airplanes-in-flight-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/facetime-video-call-works-beautifully-on-airplanes-in-flight-wi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/13/facetime-video-call-works-beautifully-on-airplanes-in-flight-wi/#comments Yeah, seriously. While Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi service has been blocking VoIP calling services (Skype being the most obvious example) from day one, it's apparently not throwing the same brick wall in the face of Apple's new standard. Our good pals over at TUAW managed to record a (relatively) solid two minute FaceTime conversation with an iPhone 4 owner, and only after you realize that said owner is a few thousand feet above the Earth's surface does this all become a lot more interesting. We know for a fact that certain iPhone 4 owners have had difficulty with FaceTime conversations when using highly firewalled access points (like those found in hotels and corporate offices), but it seems as if seat 16A is cleared for transmission. For now, anyway. Head on past the break to peek the FaceTime ad that Apple forgot to make.

Continue reading FaceTime video call works beautifully on airplane's in-flight WiFi (video)

FaceTime video call works beautifully on airplane's in-flight WiFi (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellappleapple iphone 4AppleIphone4facetimegogoin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiinternetios 4Ios4iphoneiphone 4Iphone4smartphonevideovideo callvideo callingvideo chatvideo chattingVideoCallVideoCallingVideoChatVideoChattingvoipTue, 13 Jul 2010 22:05:00 EST<![CDATA[1 in 10 fliers using in-flight WiFi, Aircell 'thrilled' with repeat usage rate]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/1-in-10-fliers-using-in-flight-wifi-aircell-thrilled-with-rep/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/1-in-10-fliers-using-in-flight-wifi-aircell-thrilled-with-rep/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/1-in-10-fliers-using-in-flight-wifi-aircell-thrilled-with-rep/#commentsUS airlines are still struggling to keep pace with their Asian contemporaries, and while we won't be satisfied until each and every plane that soars over this great land has an integrated router, there's no question that carriers seem to be racing to equip their fleets with in-flight WiFi. According to recent analyst reports, fewer than 10 percent of fliers are using the service, but on the other hand, one in ten fliers are. There's obviously two ways of looking at this -- in-flight WiFi is still a fledgling technology, and it's only available on around a third of domestic flights. From that perspective, a 10 percent overall usage rate looks pretty impressive. But there's no question that cost is a concern here, as is time; many fliers are using their moments in the air to actually disconnect for a change, and few corporations actually have policies in place to reimburse employees for WiFi charges accumulated in the air. Furthermore, fliers can't even use their laptops for the first and last half-hour of flights, so unless you're flying coast-to-coast, you may assume that only having an hour or so to surf just isn't worth the hassle.

We pinged Aircell (the makers of Gogo, which is by far the dominant in-flight WiFi provider in America) for comment on the linked report, and while they wouldn't comment specifically, they did confirm that they have been "thrilled" with repeat usage rates. The company's own research has found that "61 percent of Gogo customers have used it again within 3 months," which is a pretty fantastic attach rate. Now, if only it could get more people to try the service once, it may just be on its way to taking over the world. Or something. Full comment is after the break.

Continue reading 1 in 10 fliers using in-flight WiFi, Aircell 'thrilled' with repeat usage rate

1 in 10 fliers using in-flight WiFi, Aircell 'thrilled' with repeat usage rate originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellanalystbroadbandgogoin-flightin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiinternetresearchsurveywifiThu, 08 Jul 2010 17:19:00 EST<![CDATA[US Airways finally secures Gogo in-flight WiFi, adding to all A321's by June]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/us-airways-finally-secures-gogo-in-flight-wifi-adding-to-all-a3/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/us-airways-finally-secures-gogo-in-flight-wifi-adding-to-all-a3/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/29/us-airways-finally-secures-gogo-in-flight-wifi-adding-to-all-a3/#commentsWe heard last summer that 2010 would be the year for US Airways to gain in-flight internet, and sure enough, America's worst legacy airline has made good on said promise. As of now, a grand total of five Airbus A321 planes are equipped with Gogo, and if you're lucky enough to end up on one, you'll get a single free session through June 1st provided that you're a first-time Gogo user. Speaking of early June, that's when all 51 of the outfit's A321's will be lit with WiFi, and better still, you'll be able to see right away if your flight will be wired (or unwired, as it were) at the time of booking. There's no mention of expansion plans beyond that, and we still haven't received an apology for refusing us a gratis glass of water on a 6.5 hour flight in August of 2008. No, we're not bitter. At all.

US Airways finally secures Gogo in-flight WiFi, adding to all A321's by June originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a321airbusairbus a321AirbusA321aircellairlineairplanebroadbandflightGogoin flight internetin flight wifiin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiInFlightInternetInFlightWifiinternetplaneplanesus airus airwaysUsAirUsAirwayswifiMon, 29 Mar 2010 20:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Aircell tempts HTC HD2 owners with six months free in-flight WiFi]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/25/aircell-tempts-htc-hd2-owners-with-six-months-free-in-flight-wif/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/25/aircell-tempts-htc-hd2-owners-with-six-months-free-in-flight-wif/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/25/aircell-tempts-htc-hd2-owners-with-six-months-free-in-flight-wif/#commentsNow that Aircell has finished roping every major US airline into its plan for world domination providing inexpensive WiFi on most every flight, the company's dealmakers have had to fall back on, shall we say, less integral partnerships to advance their strategy. First up? If you're the owner of a shiny new HTC HD2 on T-Mobile, you get six months of Gogo in-flight WiFi, free of charge. Simply register with the company anytime before June 2011 and it's clear skies for your connection. You can consider the expiration date a bonus alarm clock -- by that time, you'll be ready for a phone with enough buttons for Windows Phone 7 Series.

Aircell tempts HTC HD2 owners with six months free in-flight WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 06:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellfreego-goGogoGogo inflightGogoInflightHD2htcHTC HD2HtcHd2in-flightin-flight wifiin-flightwifiinflight internetinflight wifiInflightInternetInflightWifit mobileT-MobileTMobilewifiThu, 25 Mar 2010 06:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Aircell to start in-flight video download service later this year]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/aircell-to-start-in-flight-video-download-service-later-this-yea/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/aircell-to-start-in-flight-video-download-service-later-this-yea/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/10/aircell-to-start-in-flight-video-download-service-later-this-yea/#comments Aircell may have skipped out on having a presence at CES this year, but that doesn't mean that nothing is going on in the wide, wacky world of in-flight internet. The company confirmed to us via email that it's planning a new video download service for 2010, a little something that'll go by the name Gogo Video. PC World was able to sit down with Eric Lemond, director of product management for the company, and they found that the service will be a lot like the iTunes Video Store in function. Users will be able to tap into their onboard WiFi in order to suck down TV shows and film rentals, which will be available for viewing up to 24 hours from the time of purchase. The files themselves will remain on the laptop (as in, this isn't just a streaming service), and while the exact launch date has yet to be nailed down, we are told that it will only be available for Windows laptops initially. Prices should range from $2 to $4 based on the programming, though we're still waiting to hear what kind content partners will be signing on. Fret not, jetsetters -- the unfriendly skies are about to get a bit more bearable.

Aircell to start in-flight video download service later this year originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellAircell Gogo VideoAircellGogoVideogogoin-flightin-flight internetin-flight videoin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightVideoIn-flightWifiinternetvideowifiSun, 10 Jan 2010 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Continental to launch in-flight WiFi in 2010]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/continental-to-launch-in-flight-wifi-in-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/continental-to-launch-in-flight-wifi-in-2010/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/continental-to-launch-in-flight-wifi-in-2010/#commentsLooks like Continental is the latest to inch closer to our dream of WiFi on every flight: the airline just announced that it'll be rolling out Gogo in-flight internet service on 21 Boeing 757-300s in its fleet starting in Q2 2010. The service will cost $4.95 and up based on flight length, and the 757s in question mostly serve domestic routes -- we're hoping Continental takes a cue from American and US Airways and lets passengers check to see if their plane is WiFi-enabled.

Continental to launch in-flight WiFi in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellcontinentalcontinental airlinesContinentalAirlinesgogoin flight wifiin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiInFlightWifiwi-fiwifiWed, 16 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airlines launches online widget to sniff out WiFi-equipped flights]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/19/american-airlines-launches-online-widget-to-sniff-out-wifi-equip/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/19/american-airlines-launches-online-widget-to-sniff-out-wifi-equip/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/19/american-airlines-launches-online-widget-to-sniff-out-wifi-equip/#comments You may bang on the legacy airlines, but American Airlines has a good thing going here with Gogo. The outfit has just completed installation of in-flight WiFi on 150 of its MD-80 aircraft, and in order to give you a better idea of how to prepare, it's now launching an online widget that'll let you know if your bird will enable web surfing when you get on. The tool is completely web-based, so any PC or smartphone can access it; the only real knock is that it only informs you of a "yes" or "no" 24 hours prior to departure, so it's still impossible to book a flight 3 months out and know for certain if you'll be able to hop online. This is definitely something that should be adopted by the other airlines (pronto!), but we can't help but dream of the day when something like this is unnecessary due to in-flight internet becoming completely ubiquitous. Ah, the future -- how you tease us so. Demonstration vid is after the break.

Continue reading American Airlines launches online widget to sniff out WiFi-equipped flights

American Airlines launches online widget to sniff out WiFi-equipped flights originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellaircraftairlineairlinesAmerican AirlinesAmericanAirlinesgogoMD-80toolvideowidegetwidgetwifiwifi widgetWifiWidgetThu, 19 Nov 2009 17:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin America and Google gift flyers with free WiFi for the holidays]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/virgin-america-and-google-gift-flyers-with-free-wifi-for-the-hol/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/virgin-america-and-google-gift-flyers-with-free-wifi-for-the-hol/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/19/virgin-america-and-google-gift-flyers-with-free-wifi-for-the-hol/#comments
While those legacy airlines are scheming to charge you more to fly over the holidays, Virgin America is making it even easier to choose its services over the rest. Announced today, the airline (which should expand to more cities on the double, just so we're clear) has teamed up with Google in order to bring gratis WiFi to all flyers throughout the holiday season. If you'll recall, VA recently made known that every single one of its aircraft was equipped with in-flight internet courtesy of Aircell, and between November 10th, 2009 and January 15th, 2010, your surfing will be on the house should your find yourself in a seat. Not a bad way to spread a little holiday cheer, huh?

[Via Engadget Spanish]

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Virgin America and Google gift flyers with free WiFi for the holidays originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aircellairlinefreegogogoogleholidaysholidazein flight wifiin-flightin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiInFlightWifiinternetVirgin AmericaVirginAmericawifiMon, 19 Oct 2009 19:21:00 EST<![CDATA[US Airways launching Gogo in-flight internet next year, to show WiFi logo when booking]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/23/us-airways-launching-gogo-in-flight-internet-next-year-to-show/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/23/us-airways-launching-gogo-in-flight-internet-next-year-to-show/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/23/us-airways-launching-gogo-in-flight-internet-next-year-to-show/#comments
Our wildest, most frenzied dreams are coming true, airline by airline. As Aircell steps in to infiltrate yet another legacy carrier here in America, US Airways has finally caved to the pressures of being an airline in 2009 by announcing its intentions to get Gogo on a select few of its planes. Starting in early 2010, Gogo in-flight internet will be added to its fleet of 50 A321 aircraft, and while that's certainly not a jaw-dropping amount, it's better than zilch. Of note, US Airways also has plans to let consumers see if their proposed flight will have WiFi when booking online, and while we can't help but celebrate such an achievement, we're also mighty fearful that this will lead to yet another fee for the privilege of riding on a WiFi-equipped plane. You know -- considering that this airline once refused water to passengers on a 6.5 hour flight last August.

[Via Gadling]

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US Airways launching Gogo in-flight internet next year, to show WiFi logo when booking originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellaircraftairlineairplanebroadbandflightflyinggogoin flight wifiin-flightin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiInFlightWifius airus airwaysUsAirUsAirwayswifiThu, 23 Jul 2009 10:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Aircell offers short haul, 24-hour Gogo in-flight internet passes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/15/aircell-offers-short-haul-24-hour-gogo-in-flight-internet-passe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/15/aircell-offers-short-haul-24-hour-gogo-in-flight-internet-passe/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/15/aircell-offers-short-haul-24-hour-gogo-in-flight-internet-passe/#comments
It's a technology lover's dream come true: in-flight internet. Knowing that all too well, Aircell has decided to expand its pricing options for its Gogo services, which are currently available on select flights from Virgin America, AirTran, Delta and America Airlines. In order to better serve more customers on flights of varying lengths, the company has today announced two new options: a Flight Pass for short haul flights and a 24-Hour Pass for those doing a same-day return or connecting on multiple short haul flights. The former will run WiFi addicts $5.95 for flights lasting approximately 1.5 hours or less, while the latter will provide 24-hour access on a single airline for $12.95 (though it's only available initially on AirTran and Delta). If you're doing an unfathomable amount of cruising the friendly skies, there's even a 30-day unlimited pass for a single airline that'll set you back $49.95. Now, if only Gogo would get going on more planes, we'd happily take advantage.

[Via Gadling]

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Aircell offers short haul, 24-hour Gogo in-flight internet passes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While Aircell's high-speed in-flight internet service and other similar options are quickly becoming commonplace on commercial airlines, folks on private jets have so far had nothing to do but sit in their plush leather seats and drown their sorrows in a selection from the on-board wine cabinet. That dire situation now looks to be changing, however, as Cessna has just announced a partnership with Aircell that'll see the 3G-based in-flight WiFi service available as a factory option on its Citation XLS+, Citation Sovereign and Citation X business jets. As if that wasn't enough, it seems that the upgrade may even be eligible for bonus tax depreciation under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, so really, you might as well just get that new plane. It practically pays for itself.

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Cessna to offer Aircell high-speed internet on Citation private jets originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So, we know you're as giddy as a child on Christmas morn' every time one of your flights turns out to have WiFi. But what if we told you that those puny 900+kbps transfers could soon be dwarfed by download rates as high as 45Mbps? This is Wi-SKY's claim, made during a presentation at the Immarsat Aeronautical Conference. According to Electronista, the technology relies on a series of radio towers that are each capable of broadcasting a distance of up to 54 miles. The company has yet to announce any airline partnerships or a timeline for deployment, so don't expect to do any bandwidth-intensive tech blogging from the skies over Laramie any time soon. But we do have an octane-fueled, high-adrenaline video for you. Peep it after the break.

Continue reading Video: Wi-SKY promises in-flight 45Mbps downloads, does nothing for your troubled conscience

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Video: Wi-SKY promises in-flight 45Mbps downloads, does nothing for your troubled conscience originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellfleetwide wifiFleetwideWifiimmarsatImmarsat Aeronautical ConferenceImmarsatAeronauticalConferencein-flightin-flight wifIn-flightWifiinternetmobile broadbandmobile internetMobileBroadbandMobileInternetvoipWi-SkywifiWiSkyThu, 04 Jun 2009 16:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Virgin America lights up entire fleet with in-flight WiFi]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/20/virgin-america-lights-up-entire-fleet-with-in-flight-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/20/virgin-america-lights-up-entire-fleet-with-in-flight-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/20/virgin-america-lights-up-entire-fleet-with-in-flight-wifi/#comments
Hold up AirTran -- not so fast with those wild claims of in-flight WiFi superiority. If you'll recall, the aforesaid airline proclaimed that it would soon be the first to have its entire fleet doused with Gogo, but it looks like Virgin America has swept in to claim that title. We should point out just how unfair the challenge is, though: VA has 28 planes as of today, whereas AirTran has 136. At any rate, we're still thrilled to see airlines duking it out in order to get more WiFi to more fliers, and we fully anticipate that every new aircraft added to Virgin America's fleet will be lit from day one. Now, if only they'd allow Skype functionality for more than just an Oprah demonstration, we'd really be playing with fire.

[Via Gadling]

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Virgin America lights up entire fleet with in-flight WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Listen up, jet-setters -- AirTran Airways just got a lot more attractive. Starting this summer, this very airline will become the "world's first" (Virgin America will have its comparatively small fleet of 28 fully equipped by Memorial Day) to equip all of its aircraft with in-flight WiFi, and when we say "all," we mean "all." Much like the half dozen other Aircell airline partners, AirTran is also utilizing Gogo technology, but it's doing so across its entire fleet of Boeing 737 and 717 aircraft. If all goes to plan, all 136 AirTran planes will be broadband-enabled by "mid-summer," and as with other Gogo-equipped planes, patrons will be asked to pony up $12.95 for access on flights over three hours and $9.95 for jaunts that are three hours or less. Of note, "handheld devices" can hop online for just $7.95 regardless of flight length, though we get the idea that VoIP calling will still be disabled.

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AirTran brings Gogo in-flight WiFi to every single flight originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 May 2009 12:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AircellAirTranAirTran airwaysAirtranAirwaysGogoin-flightin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiinternetwifiTue, 12 May 2009 12:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Aircell's Gogo in-flight internet coming to United Airlines]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/aircells-gogo-in-flight-internet-coming-to-united-airlines/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/aircells-gogo-in-flight-internet-coming-to-united-airlines/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/14/aircells-gogo-in-flight-internet-coming-to-united-airlines/#comments
Aircell already managed to coerce American, Delta, Virgin America and Air Canada into installing its Gogo in-flight internet equipment into at least a few of their airplanes, and now United Airlines can proudly say that it's no longer looking in from the outside. Starting this year, a baker's dozen of the company's Boeing 757s -- which will fly between John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and California's Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport -- will be armed and ready with WiFi for the people. Pricing will remain set at $12.95 for the entire flight, and service is expected to roll out during the second half of this year.

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Aircell's Gogo in-flight internet coming to United Airlines originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We already knew that Delta was pushing its in-flight WiFi plans ahead, and starting tomorrow, a half dozen MD-88 shuttle flights will be live with internet from 35,000 feet. As with Virgin America, Delta Air Lines will be relying on Aircell's Gogo technology, though it will go down as the first US carrier to initiate a "fleet-wide rollout." Eventually, over 300 domestic mainline aircraft will enable guests to surf the intarwebz from way up high, and you'll know if the one you're boarding is lit if you see one of the above pictured "Wi-Fi Onboard" logos on the boarding door. The launch flights -- which will run from December 16th through the 31st -- will provide gratis access to the web, while standard pricing of $9.95 on flights of three hours or less and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours will presumably kick in on January 1, 2009. Happy trails, and don't forget to give us a visit while you're up there.

[Via Switched]

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Gogo in-flight WiFi taking off in six Delta flights tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's something that doesn't happen everyday with legacy airlines -- an announcement that something is actually ahead of schedule. After hearing that Delta would equip its entire US fleet with Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi in 2009, along comes a release from Aircell that says otherwise. In fact, it proclaims that "Delta Air Lines is expected to launch service before the end of 2008." Furthermore, the company has confessed that "most major US carriers are in advanced discussions with or are already contractually committed to Aircell," which certainly bodes well for avid travelers who take issue with long periods of disconnection. Aircell is hoping to have its in-flight internet tech installed in 2,000 commercial aircraft by the end of 2009 -- talk about making the friendly skies "friendly" again.

[Image courtesy of Gadling]

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Delta pushes in-flight WiFi plans ahead, Gogo to hit 2,000 planes in 2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 21:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The time has come, internet mavens... to comment on this post from 35,000 feet up, of course. After launching to a select handful of lucky souls last week, Virgin America has gone live with its Aircell-engineered Gogo internet service on select flights. As of now, an undisclosed amount of VA flights will offer guests unlimited use (with certain restrictions around VoIP, we hear) while in the air for $12.95 on flights longer than three hours and $9.95 for flights under three hours. The airline's entire fleet should be WiFi-ready by Q1 2009, but for now, why not kill some time tracking planes with live internet access? Fun, right?

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Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi goes live commercially on Virgin America originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So I took a little a break from working on gdgt to get on Virgin America's inaugural Aircell GoGo WiFi party flight, posting this at altitude. If you haven't already caught one of the early Aircell flights on Delta, American, or Air Canada, their now-active GoGo service provides in-flight internet. So far, as far as party planes go, this one hasn't been too raucous -- probably because everyone's been geeking out on their laptops.
Quick facts:
  • The service is a shared high-power EV-DO Rev. A connection, at 3.6Mbps downstream and 1.8Mbps upstream.
  • By April, 100% of Virgin America's flights will have GoGo service. Dayumn! All GoGo service is $10 for short flights (under 3 hours) and $13 for longer flights (over 3 hours).
  • So far I've been getting about 1Mbps down, and 200Kbps up -- pretty good considering that this is about as pinned as the system is going to get. There are only about 150 people on it right now, you know?
  • Latency is between 200-500ms, sometimes higher. Reasonable latency, though.
  • The system uses 802.11a/b/g, although it's an open AP (i.e. no encryption).
  • Speaking of which, GoGo claims they'll support VPN, so expect that to work. SSH is iffy though -- it worked for us, but they don't really want people SSH tunneling (especially to do stuff like VoIP).
  • Aircell intends to block voice and video chat to keep things less obnoxious for travelers. It's working in flight though -- people are doing iChat sessions. But part of this inaugural flight will have live YouTube streaming, so one should expect to have this cut off later.
  • BitTorrent works! It's not crazy fast, but I'm peering with about 8 nodes. I wouldn't expect this to work when the service launches.
  • GoGo has a built-in traffic shaper that keeps an eye out for those using more traffic than others. If you're consuming too much, it'll scale you back (although no one has a hard cap). If you're the only one on GoGo (say, on a red-eye at 4am) then you can go crazy, you won't be scaled back. Still, I'm sitting next to my old pal Brian Lam from Giz, and I'd wager the two of us are somehow taking up about 80% of the plane's bandwidth.
  • Virgin America isn't filtering content, so feel free to cast a glance over your shoulder and engage your browser's private mode.

Any thing else you want to know?

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On Virgin America's inaugural GoGo WiFi flight: this post published from 35,000 feet originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellgogovirgin americaVirginAmericawifiSat, 22 Nov 2008 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Air Canada inks deal with Aircell for in-flight WiFi]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/10/air-canada-inks-deal-with-aircell-for-in-flight-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/10/air-canada-inks-deal-with-aircell-for-in-flight-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/10/air-canada-inks-deal-with-aircell-for-in-flight-wifi/#comments
Check it, Canucks -- Air Canada is following in the footsteps of several other airlines by finally taking the plunge on in-flight WiFi. Similar to American Airlines, it has landed a deal with Aircell in order to bring the intarwebz to the friendly skies on select flights. Starting next spring, certain transborder flights from the Great North to the West Coast of America will give passengers the option of hopping online for C$12.95, and Charles McKee, the airline's vice-president of marketing, has asserted that it has every intention of rolling the service out "across its North American fleet" in the future. Now, if only every other airline would follow suit...

[Via Jaunted]

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Air Canada inks deal with Aircell for in-flight WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>air canadaAirCanadaaircellbroadbandcanadagogoin-flightin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiinternetwifiWed, 10 Sep 2008 06:25:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airlines goes live with in-flight WiFi service]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/20/american-airlines-goes-live-with-in-flight-wifi-service/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/20/american-airlines-goes-live-with-in-flight-wifi-service/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/20/american-airlines-goes-live-with-in-flight-wifi-service/#commentsAt long last, "you are now free to surf the intarwebz while flying." Okay, so maybe it has been possible in the past, but American Airlines is taking a huge leap forward in the US market today by giving passengers aboard long-haul Boeing 767-200 flights the option to hop online during the trip. The GoGo service, which is being provided by Aircell, will charge customers $12.95 for access to the world wide web, though Reuters points out that VoIP calling is "not available." Delta, US Airways, et al. -- time to get with the program.

[Via Dallas News, thanks Travis]

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American Airlines goes live with in-flight WiFi service originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellamerican airlinesAmericanAirlinesgogoin flight internetin flight wifiin-flightin-flight internetin-flight wifiIn-flightInternetIn-flightWifiInFlightInternetInFlightWifiinternetwifiWed, 20 Aug 2008 09:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Aircell flies toward LTE for in-flight broadband]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/21/aircell-flies-toward-lte-for-in-flight-broadband/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/21/aircell-flies-toward-lte-for-in-flight-broadband/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/21/aircell-flies-toward-lte-for-in-flight-broadband/#commentsWe didn't think it was possible to fit any more nails into the CDMA2000 evolution path's coffin, but Aircell managed to find some space. The company, whose in-flight WiFi service Gogo presently uses EV-DO Rev. A, has now committed to moving to LTE to support a 4G-based service down the road to deliver, among other things, high-def multimedia and more advanced in-cockpit weather data. With LTE yet to be commercially deployed anywhere -- let alone on a scale large enough to be useful to aircraft -- Aircell has a while to ramp up and get ready for a 4G launch, but it says that it's already engaged with the appropriate standards bodies to be sure that everyone's on the same page. Looks like our dream of someday torrenting from six miles in the air is still alive, thank goodness.

[Via MobileBurn]

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Aircell flies toward LTE for in-flight broadband originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellaircraftin flight broadbandInFlightBroadbandltemobileMon, 21 Jul 2008 00:14:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airlines to test in-flight WiFi tomorrow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/24/american-airlines-to-test-in-flight-wifi-tomorrow/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/24/american-airlines-to-test-in-flight-wifi-tomorrow/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/24/american-airlines-to-test-in-flight-wifi-tomorrow/#comments
You heard right, folks. American Airlines is planning to open up the world wide web to passengers on board an unspecified round-trip flight from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport and Los Angeles. The Gogo service, provided via Aircell, will be free for patrons tomorrow, but will eventually run users $12.95 for flights greater than three hours and $9.95 for trips under said threshold. We're also told that more trials are expected to get going on flights between New York and San Francisco and New York and Miami, though no time frame is given for when the service would escape the beta stage and hit mass implementation. Additionally, the Gogo system is supposed to "prioritize the flow of data so that passengers downloading movies or large documents won't prevent other passengers from getting their email," so don't expect to use that excuse for not sending in those Q2 close reports.

[Via Jaunted]

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American Airlines to test in-flight WiFi tomorrow originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellaircraftairlineairplaneamerican airlinesAmericanAirlinesgogoin-flightin-flight wifiIn-flightWifiinternetplanewifiTue, 24 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Mossberg reviews, likes Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/video-mossberg-reviews-likes-aircells-gogo-in-flight-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/video-mossberg-reviews-likes-aircells-gogo-in-flight-wifi/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/video-mossberg-reviews-likes-aircells-gogo-in-flight-wifi/#commentsHis preeminence, oh lordship, oh liege, (uh hem) Walt Mossberg, just returned from a US test flight on a small business jet equipped with Aircell's new Gogo WiFi service. He tested multiple devices including Dell and Apple laptops, a Blackberry, iPhone, and WinMo-based cell and found them to all perform flawlessly, albeit, at speeds ranging from 266Kbps to about 1.4Mbps. Typical speeds clocked in at 500Kbps to 600Kbps -- upload speeds were a more modest 250Kbps to 300Kbps. Aircell promises a similar experience on large commercial planes with multiple connected devices. These speeds were good enough for Walt to surf the Web and check email (both prioritized on Gogo's network) as he would in the office but not quite fast enough to deliver smooth video streaming. Fortunately, (or unfortunately depending upon your opinion) the service blocks all VoIP services like Skype. Gogo WiFi will cost $12.95 for flights of three hours or longer, and $9.95 for shorter trips -- free for limited access to AA's website, Frommer's online travel guides, and select articles from The Wall Street Journal. It's scheduled to launch next month on American Airline flights between New York and LA, San Francisco, and Miami -- it will then head to Virgin America and other airlines if things go well. See Walt's head talk from the bowels of embedded video after the break.

Continue reading Video: Mossberg reviews, likes Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi

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Video: Mossberg reviews, likes Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellamerican airlinesAmericanAirlinesgogoin-flight wifiIn-flightWifivideovirgin americaVirginAmericawifiThu, 19 Jun 2008 04:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Aircell gets FAA approval for in-flight internet]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/02/aircell-gets-faa-approval-for-in-flight-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/02/aircell-gets-faa-approval-for-in-flight-internet/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/02/aircell-gets-faa-approval-for-in-flight-internet/#commentsSo Aircell just nabbed itself the first and only approval from the FAA for air-to-ground mobile broadband for US domestic flights, meaning we're that much closer to in-flight internet. So far the approval just covers the Boeing 767-200, which means Aircell can start prepping equipment to cover the 767-200 fleet of American Airlines this year, but they're also prepping to cover the Airbus A320 fleet of Virgin America. Routes between LA, SF, NY and Miami are going to get priority treatment. Aircell's Joe Cruz was also quick to point out that this approval paves the way for future aircraft approvals, which certainly can't come soon enough.

[Via Phone Scoop]

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Aircell gets FAA approval for in-flight internet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellamerican airlinesAmericanAirlinesfccvirgin americaVirginAmericaWed, 02 Apr 2008 18:08:00 EST<![CDATA[American Airline's WiFi will cost $10-$13, anti-missile system still free]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/american-airlines-wifi-will-cost-10-13-anti-missile-system-s/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/american-airlines-wifi-will-cost-10-13-anti-missile-system-s/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/23/american-airlines-wifi-will-cost-10-13-anti-missile-system-s/#commentsAs you know, American Airlines is prepping in-flight WiFi in addition to, uh, anti-missile systems. Good news on the former, pricing is set. Good if $10 WiFi for flights less than three-hours or $12.95 for longer flights excites your fiscal sweet-spot like it does American's. Rollout will begin this summer on AA's 767-200 jets before rolling out across its entire fleet.

[Via WNN]

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American Airline's WiFi will cost $10-$13, anti-missile system still free originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Jan 2008 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircellamerican airlinesAmericanAirlinesWed, 23 Jan 2008 07:02:00 EST