Surf the Friendly Skies
It was only a matter of time, but soon JetBlue will introduce internet access onto some of their planes.
Initially partnering with Yahoo! and Research in Motion (RIM), JetBlue is introducing the service on one of their planes starting next week. The service will be free, but users will only be able to access Yahoo! IM and e-mail.
Other carriers, including Alaska, American, and Virgin America, plan on creating in-flight hotspots of their own in the coming months. Word is they will charge somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 a flight for their services.
Such access will only be available when the jet is at cruising altitude, not while taking off and landing.
It’s a little cloudy so far about whether VoIP will be allowed, since being in close proximity with somebody rambling on for hours isn’t most people’s idea of a good flight. But the service will certainly allow for such technology.
JetBlue’s service is not working particularly well yet. That is why they are not going to charge anybody, initially. The service is has plenty of glitches at this point and can be rather slow at times.
Thus far, the technology relies on air-to-ground cellular networks, although a company called Row 44 is planning a satellite network that would even work on long international flights. No doubt that service would be popular on about the 13th hour of a flight to Sydney.
Story via Reuters and The New York Times
Technorati Tags: JetBlue, WiFi, Blackbery, Yahoo, mobile, RIM, Research in Motion
