Engadget

Google Chromebooks bring the cloud to the plane with 12 free Gogo sessions

Brian Heater — Wed, 30 May 2012 13:39:00 EST

Need a dozen or so extra reasons to pick up a new Samsung Chromebook? How's about 12 free in-flight WiFi sessions from GoGo? Granted, it's probably not enough reason alone to pick up the browser-based notebook, but it should help sweeten the deal a bit. The deal, which kicks in after May 31st, will have you flying the friendly web on some 1,500 Gogo-sporting planes.

Continue reading Google Chromebooks bring the cloud to the plane with 12 free Gogo sessions

Google Chromebooks bring the cloud to the plane with 12 free Gogo sessions originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gogo and AeroSat get friendly on Ku-band, bring international in-flight WiFi closer

Jon Fingas — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:34:00 EST

Gogo has a virtual lock on in-flight WiFi for the US, but most of us forget that everything goes dark the moment you decide to cross the border. The company already has a deal with Inmarsat for Ka-band Internet connections, and now it's partnering up with AeroSat to bring Ku-band satellite access. The tie-in will let Gogo offer precious relief from tedium on international flights, whether it's a modest hop to the Great White North or an hours-long trip across the ocean. Gogo considers the deal an interim step until Inmarsat's technology is ready, making for much quicker availability than if it had just waited until it could use Ka-band: Ku-band satellite linkups should be on airliners as soon as the end of 2012, while Ka-band won't even show its face until at least late 2014. It's unknown what kind of premium we'll pay over the $13 maximum Gogo normally charges, but if AeroSat lets us squeak in a few more Twitter updates on our way home from Barcelona, it'll be worthwhile.

Continue reading Gogo and AeroSat get friendly on Ku-band, bring international in-flight WiFi closer

Gogo and AeroSat get friendly on Ku-band, bring international in-flight WiFi closer originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gogo grabs 1MHz spectrum from JetBlue subsidiary LiveTV, beefs up in-flight bandwidth

Michael Gorman — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:52:00 EST

In-flight internet provider Gogo's been increasing its domestic presence of late, so it makes sense for the company to snag some additional spectrum as well. Its new wireless license is for a chunk of 1 MHz spectrum that Gogo got from Live TV, the subsidiary of JetBlue that handles all of that airline's in-air entertainment and communications services. Gogo's new spectrum will augment its existing Air-to-Ground network here in the US -- pending FCC approval, of course -- and provide road (sky?) warriors with a bit more bandwidth once above 10,000 feet. For all you jet-setters, we should mention that your Gulfstream's Airfone bill will be going to Gogo from now on, as LiveTV tossed the venerable voice service in the deal, too.

Continue reading Gogo grabs 1MHz spectrum from JetBlue subsidiary LiveTV, beefs up in-flight bandwidth

Gogo grabs 1MHz spectrum from JetBlue subsidiary LiveTV, beefs up in-flight bandwidth originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three iPad giveaways in three days: day three, courtesy of Gogo!

Brad Molen — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:01:00 EST

Here's one last opportunity for you to grab a new iPad for yourself, and Gogo's pulling out all the stops to ensure you're happy with your new treasure both on the ground and in the air. See, the in-flight WiFi provider is setting you up with the chance to win a 32GB AT&T LTE version of Apple's latest slate and it's throwing in a full year of free Gogo service to go along with it. That's definitely not a shabby prize, to say the least, so you'll surely want to read the rules and leave a comment to earn yourself a shot to win. Good luck!

Continue reading Three iPad giveaways in three days: day three, courtesy of Gogo!

Three iPad giveaways in three days: day three, courtesy of Gogo! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Engadget Interview: ViaSat CEO Mark Dankberg on Exede and the future of in-flight WiFi

Zach Honig — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

When you think about satellite internet, dismal speeds, ridiculous latency and astronomical fees are likely first to come to mind. But the only technology capable of blanketing our entire planet in connectivity is now able to provide a fast, consistent and affordable experience, thanks to one market-leading company, and the vision and leadership of Mark Dankberg. Launched from Dankberg's home in Southern California, ViaSat lit up on the map in 1986, and spent the first two decades focused on government and corporate contracts. Last year's launch of ViaSat-1, however, beamed the company straight toward the top of the North American satellite broadband market, bringing high-speed internet to the rural masses. Pair the company's Exede household product with airline contracts for in-flight WiFi, and you have one ever-growing infrastructure giant. We sat down with Dankberg -- ViaSat's CEO since inception -- at the company's Carlsbad, California headquarters, learning about the Exede service launch, a portable newsgathering rig and what the future of in-flight WiFi may look like on airlines like JetBlue and United. Join us past the break for the interview in full, and an inside look at how ViaSat plans to transform the entire satellite internet experience.

Continue reading The Engadget Interview: ViaSat CEO Mark Dankberg on Exede and the future of in-flight WiFi

The Engadget Interview: ViaSat CEO Mark Dankberg on Exede and the future of in-flight WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gogo WiFi lands in more US Airways Airbuses and Embraers, intros Gogo Vision

Edgar Alvarez — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:02:00 EST

Gogo isn't just tossing its mid-air wireless goodies toward Virgin and American, with US Airways being the latest to join the extra perks party. Per today's announcement, the airline is stuffing Gogo WiFi in a few more planes, including the Airbus A319 and A320. Other shorter (and much smaller) aircraft, the Embraer 170, 175 and 190, are also getting the in-flight WiFi treatment. Meanwhile, a quick peek at the PR below reveals Gogo is quietly launching its Vision service, allowing passengers to watch movies, shows and have access to "exclusive" shopping deals -- though, you'll have to shell out $1 to $6 more for the privilege. Maybe now you'll actually want to seek out Express flights rather than avoid them, since you'll have far fewer passengers to fight for bandwidth.

Continue reading Gogo WiFi lands in more US Airways Airbuses and Embraers, intros Gogo Vision

Gogo WiFi lands in more US Airways Airbuses and Embraers, intros Gogo Vision originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delta teams up with Amazon to give you free WiFi access for in-flight shopping

Edgar Alvarez — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:39:00 EST

SkyMiles distributor Delta isn't a newcomer to the land of in-flight WiFi freebies. And, while this time it's not setting a time limit on your browsing, you'll have to stay within the Amazon virtual walls to take advantage. The hook-up between the airline and online retail giant will allow passengers to do some up-in-the-clouds shopping at no cost, including its Wireless store. Delta says the goal is to offer a "convenient way to shop online at 30,000 feet for things they want on the ground." Other bits announced are also costless access to content from The Wall Street Journal and People magazine, as well as more "exclusive" deals. Now, if only we could be certain folks weren't going to be hogging all the Gogo bandwidth streaming Netflix -- we'd be set.

Continue reading Delta teams up with Amazon to give you free WiFi access for in-flight shopping

Delta teams up with Amazon to give you free WiFi access for in-flight shopping originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViaSat residential satellite broadband internet hands-on (video)

Zach Honig — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:46:00 EST

Last Thursday, ViaSat announced pricing for its new home broadband service, which is set to deliver 12 Mbps+ download speeds (3 Mbps+ up) beginning next week for $50 per month. We just dropped by the company's demo home just a few feet from the Engadget trailer at the Las Vegas Convention Center parking lot to try it out, and were quite impressed with the speeds we saw, especially considering that data was passing through the ViaSat-1 satellite thousands of miles above the Earth. We've used other satellite internet services before, and while there's still just over a half-second of latency, bandwidth speeds were significantly faster than what we've experienced with other services in the past.

HD YouTube videos loaded very quickly, after a brief delay, as did Engadget and many other media-rich news websites. We performed a speed test and registered ping speeds of about 600ms, download speeds of about 30 Mbps and upload speeds of about 2 Mbps, but results aren't as accurate as they would be with a land-based connection because of latency and the way packet data is handled. We also placed a VOIP call, and while the delay was noticeable there, it was still usable. Want to see for yourself? Jump past the break as we step through ViaSat's front door to hop online.

Gallery: ViaSat residential satellite broadband internet hands-on

Continue reading ViaSat residential satellite broadband internet hands-on (video)

ViaSat residential satellite broadband internet hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delta offers up 30 minutes of free Gogo on all CES flights

Zach Honig — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:11:00 EST

Heading to join us at CES in Las Vegas? Delta is prepared to hook you up with 30 minutes of free in-flight WiFi on all of its flights to and from LAS beginning today. If you're flying in from the West Coast, that should have you covered for most of the trip. Otherwise, it's at least long enough to download your email or check to see if that farmland below is in Kansas or Nebraska. And if you opt to use social media during your flight, go ahead and throw in the #EngadgetCES as you rave about being able to tweet from the sky.

Delta offers up 30 minutes of free Gogo on all CES flights originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Jan 2012 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ViaSat details home broadband, 12 Mbps service to roll out on the 16th for $50 per month

Zach Honig — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST

Earlier this year, ViaSat launched its ViaSat-1, a 140 Gbps capacity satellite positioned over North America. We've already heard about plans to bring Ka-band coverage to the friendly JetBlue skies later this year, but now the new broadband provider has detailed residential availability as well, through the National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative. NRTC members will have access to 12 Mbps service packages starting at $50 per month as soon as January 16th, finally bringing high-speed broadband to areas where fiber and cable services are not available. ViaSat may not be rolling out to consumers for another couple weeks, but the provider will be on-site at CES to demo the service in "residential, commercial airline, and satellite newsgathering" scenarios beginning Tuesday, and you better believe we'll be there to test it out.

Continue reading ViaSat details home broadband, 12 Mbps service to roll out on the 16th for $50 per month

ViaSat details home broadband, 12 Mbps service to roll out on the 16th for $50 per month originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Michael Gorman — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 13:24:00 EST

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.

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In-flight WiFi coming to 300 United and Continental aircraft beginning in mid-2012, entire fleet covered by 2015

Donald Melanson — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:34:00 EST

Planning to fly on United or Continental at any point over the next few years? Then it looks like your odds of having in-flight WiFi will be getting increasingly better. United Continental Holdings announced today that it's signed an agreement with Panasonic Avionics Corporation to bring satellite-based WiFi connectivity to more than 300 of its aircraft beginning in mid-2012. Those aircraft will include Airbus 319 and 320 and Boeing 747, 757, 767, 777 and 787, and the company says it expects its entire mainline fleet to be covered by 2015. No specific word on any additional content or services that will come with it (or a cost, for that matter), but the company promises that the system will "enable wireless streaming of video content."

Continue reading In-flight WiFi coming to 300 United and Continental aircraft beginning in mid-2012, entire fleet covered by 2015

In-flight WiFi coming to 300 United and Continental aircraft beginning in mid-2012, entire fleet covered by 2015 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gogo to bring enhanced WiFi to Virgin America, expands video streaming on American Airlines

Amar Toor — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:20:00 EST

Virgin America's in-flight perks are getting even perkier. This week, the domestic carrier announced that it's bringing Gogo's ATG-4 service aboard its fleet of aircraft, in a move that promises to enhance in-flight WiFi capacity by a factor of four. The upgrade is slated to roll out during the first half of 2012, when the company will begin outfitting its planes with Gogo's directional antenna, dual-modem and EV-DO Rev. B technologies. But VA isn't the only airline getting in on the Gogo game, as the in-flight entertainment company announced this week that it's expanding its new video streaming service to American Airlines, as well. American, as you may recall, became the first airline to test the Gogo Vision service back in August, aboard its fleet of 15 Boeing 767-200 planes. Now, the streaming product is slated to expand to a full 400 of AA's aircraft, bringing about 200 movies and TV shows to entertainment-starved passengers. Movies will be available for 24 hour rentals, with TV purchases good for a full 72 hours. Unexpired rentals, meanwhile, will still be available once you land and can be accessed with the same browser and device you used aboard the flight. No word on final pricing, though Gogo is extending its introductory offer ($1 per TV show and $4 per movie) through October 15th. Taxi past the break for more details, in a pair of press releases.

Continue reading Gogo to bring enhanced WiFi to Virgin America, expands video streaming on American Airlines

Gogo to bring enhanced WiFi to Virgin America, expands video streaming on American Airlines originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Joe Pollicino — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 21:38:00 EST

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.

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

Darren Murph — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

It'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.

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

Darren Murph — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:28:00 EST

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.

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Gogo plans to expand into in-flight movies, possibly gaming

Donald Melanson — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 19:45:00 EST

There'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.

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Lufthansa launches in-flight WiFi on intercontinental flights, ushers in 'the future'

Darren Murph — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 15:59:00 EST

There's just no two ways about it: what Lufthansa has managed to accomplish here is nothing short of incredible. While avid jetsetters have been enjoying in-flight WiFi on (select) domestic routes for a few years now, the in-flight fun has been coming to an abrupt halt when boarding a flight requiring a passport. The dream of long-haul in-flight internet has felt like a distant one, but it seems that the future is indeed happening today. The carrier's FlyNet service has been relaunched this week, and with assistance from Panasonic and the 802.11n gods that be, it's now offering broadband internet access on intercontinental routes. At first, the service will be limited to select North Atlantic routes, but access should be available on "nearly the entire Lufthansa intercontinental network by the end of 2011."

No specific performance figures are being released, but the company does call it "extremely fast" and quick enough to open large attachments "without delay." Better still, the airline will be enabling cellphone data access (GSM and GPRS) in the spring of next year, giving highfalutin' bigwigs the ability to send and receive the most expensive text messages of their life. Deutsche Telekom will be providing the actual internet service, with pricing set as such: €10.95 (or 3,500 miles) for one hour or €19.95 (or 7,000 miles) for a 24-hour pass that also allows patrons to access the web on "on all Lufthansa connecting flights equipped with a hotspot during the period of validity as well as after the flight in Lufthansa lounges." Oh, and did we mention that it's totally free through January 31st, 2011? It is.

Update: We're seeing expected uplink rates of 1Mbps, with download rates reaching 5Mbps. Not bad for being over an ocean.

Gallery: Lufthansa FlyNet in-flight WiFi service

Continue reading Lufthansa launches in-flight WiFi on intercontinental flights, ushers in 'the future'

Lufthansa launches in-flight WiFi on intercontinental flights, ushers in 'the future' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Delta expands WiFi access to select regional jets

Joseph L. Flatley — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 21:53:00 EST

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.

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Passengers net free WiFi while flying Delta, AirTran or Virgin America this holiday season

Darren Murph — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:52:00 EST

It's certainly not the first free in-flight WiFi promotion that we've seen, but this one's hitting at just the right time. For goodhearted, family-minded individuals who plan on jumping ship and heading to greener pastures for the holidays, you'll be elated to know that Delta, AirTran and Virgin America are all offering gratis in-flight Wi-Fi for the holidays. And shockingly enough, there's no catch. Despite being sponsored by Google's Chrome browser, you won't actually need it to access the respective services. Oh, and for those curious, the deal is active from November 20th, 2010 to January 2nd, 2011. You know, right before every nerd in the universe flies into LAS for CES. Nice cutoff date, guys.

Passengers net free WiFi while flying Delta, AirTran or Virgin America this holiday season originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Darren Murph — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:03:00 EST

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.

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Boeing installs 50Mbps eXConnect broadband on 737

Donald Melanson — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:41:00 EST

Cathay Pacific has already promised that it would bring 50Mbps in-flight broadband to some of its fleet by 2012, but it looks like Boeing has beat it to the punch to become the first to actually take the service to the skies. The company has just announced the first certification and installation of Panasonic Avionics' eXConnect in-flight internet service in one of its Boeing Business Jet 737 aircraft, which will initially be used by Panasonic itself for ongoing testing and demonstrations. That's the same system that will be used by Cathay Pacific, and consists a fuselage-mounted antenna that communicates with a network of satellites to deliver speeds of up to 50Mbps, or about a hundred times faster than most competing in-flight WiFi. Unfortunately, there's still no word on any further expansion to commercial aircraft, so Cathay Pacific may well still wind up being the first in that respect. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Boeing installs 50Mbps eXConnect broadband on 737

Boeing installs 50Mbps eXConnect broadband on 737 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HasWiFi answers a vital question: does my flight have WiFi?

Darren Murph — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:48:00 EST

It'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.

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

Darren Murph — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 11:16:00 EST

Here'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.

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

Darren Murph — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:37:00 EST

It'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.

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

Darren Murph — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:05:00 EST

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.

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

Darren Murph — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:19:00 EST

US 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.

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Cathay Pacific bringing 50Mbps WiFi, live TV and in-flight calling to fleet

Darren Murph — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:46:00 EST

Mmm... we like where this is headed. While legacy airlines in America are struggling to outfit their fleets with in-flight WiFi alone, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways is showing 'em how it's done. The airline has just inked a memorandum of understanding with Panasonic Avionics for the "provision of full broadband connectivity on all Cathay Pacific and Dragonair passenger aircraft." Yeah, you read that correctly -- by early 2012, Cathay will make 50Mbps internet service, in-flight GSM cellphone service (voice, SMS and data) as well as live and pay-per-view television available to every last passenger. The finer details are still being hammered out, and we aren't told whether every single bird in its fleet will be online from Day 1, but we're still as giddy as ever for this to become a reality. Here's hoping this pushes those other airlines into getting with the program, and at the very least, it ought to give you plenty of reason to take that Asian vacation you've been putting off.

Continue reading Cathay Pacific bringing 50Mbps WiFi, live TV and in-flight calling to fleet

Cathay Pacific bringing 50Mbps WiFi, live TV and in-flight calling to fleet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US Airways finally secures Gogo in-flight WiFi, adding to all A321's by June

Darren Murph — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:17:00 EST

We 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.

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Aircell tempts HTC HD2 owners with six months free in-flight WiFi

Sean Hollister — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 06:22:00 EST

Now 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.

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United puts the kibosh on in-flight video chat, one family seriously 'bummed'

Joseph L. Flatley — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:17:00 EST

It may not be illegal to tuck your kids into bed via iChat while taking advantage of United's in-flight WiFi, but that didn't stop a flight attendant from ending John Battelle's (admittedly precious) use of the service during a flight two days ago. It seems that the airline has a policy that prohibits "two-way devices" from communicating with the ground -- you know, in case some terrorists board the plane and try some shenanigans. Apparently a laptop with WiFi isn't considered a "two-way device," until you throw videoconferencing apps like Skype into the mix. Somehow, it seems, the company missed Apple iChat when blocking ports, thus enabling the whole affair. Let this be a lesson to those of you with children: save the chats for the hotel room or the airport lobby, eh?

United puts the kibosh on in-flight video chat, one family seriously 'bummed' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Southwest nails down in-flight WiFi partnership, whole fleet to be lit by 2012

Darren Murph — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:29:00 EST

It's about time, ain't it? Southwest -- which is easily one of the most enjoyable airlines to fly on here in the States -- has finally cemented its in-flight WiFi plans after more than two full years of hemming, hawing and testing. A fresh blog posting on the airline's website clues us in on exactly how difficult to road to this day has been, but a finalized partnership with Row 44 will allow wireless equipment to be installed into 15 aircraft per month starting in Q2 of this year. In time, the company will ramp that up to 25 per month, which should mean that its entire fleet of 540 planes will be outfitted for mile-high web access by "early 2012." We're still being kept in the dark when it comes to pricing, but Southwest assures us that it's still "testing a variety of price points on the four aircraft that currently have WiFi" and that a decision will be made in a few more months.

Update: Tipster MJK just hit us up with this tidbit, and if Southwest keeps this kind of pricing in tact, it could very well start a price war with the legacy carriers who charge upwards of $13 per flight for access."I took a trip from Los Angeles to Albuquerque recently and they charged $4 for the entire trip. It's just around two hours but it was indeed fast WiFi."

Southwest nails down in-flight WiFi partnership, whole fleet to be lit by 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aircell to start in-flight video download service later this year

Darren Murph — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:02:00 EST

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.

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Continental to launch in-flight WiFi in 2010

Nilay Patel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:29:00 EST

Looks 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.

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Virgin America and Google gift flyers with free WiFi for the holidays

Darren Murph — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:21:00 EST

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]

Filed under: Wireless

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.

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US Airways launching Gogo in-flight internet next year, to show WiFi logo when booking

Darren Murph — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:32:00 EST

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]

Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

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.

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Aircell offers short haul, 24-hour Gogo in-flight internet passes

Darren Murph — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:26:00 EST

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]

Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

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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Cessna to offer Aircell high-speed internet on Citation private jets

Donald Melanson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:21:00 EST

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.

Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

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

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 16:46:00 EST

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

Filed under: Transportation

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.

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Virgin America lights up entire fleet with in-flight WiFi

Darren Murph — Wed, 20 May 2009 17:46:00 EST

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]

Filed under: Transportation, Wireless

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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