Now that inflight broadband is back in fashion, why shouldn’t low-cost operators get in on the action? Southwest Airlines will soon start testing satellite-delivered broadband Internet access on four of its planes. Southern Calif.-based Row 44, which has cut a similar deal with Alaska Airlines, will provide the technology, which will deliver a 30-megabit-per-second data connection to the planes.
Southwest Airlines To Offer Inflight Broadband
Network
- TheAppleBlog: Quick Bit: Stanza & eReader Become Friends
- GigaOM: The Handset of the Future Needs Wi-Fi
- TheAppleBlog: iPod touch Gets VoIP Thanks to Truphone
- NewTeeVee: MobiTV Hits 5 Million Subscribers
- GigaOM: Why Government Should Meddle in Broadband
- Earth2Tech: EnerNOC Signs Up General Mills for Electricity Demand-Response Network
2 trackbacks so far
4:53 PM PT
[...] flying WiFi, Batman! American Airlines and Southwest prepare to plug their passengers into the [...]
5:07 PM PT
[...] sale (even though it doesn’t want to be). Holy flying WiFi, Batman! American Airlines and Southwest prepare to plug their passengers into the [...]
8 comments so far
11:17 AM PT
I’m sure that a lot of people can’t wait to play flight simulator with a southwest plane.
(link)
How about they start by offering power outlets so my laptop doesn’t die?
4:05 PM PT
I was surprised recently when I looked under the seats of an American Airlines S-80. Power outlets! Maybe they don’t advertise this fact because too many users might overload the circuits?
(link) - a quick and easy way to tune into live internet television
8:16 AM PT
Amen, Benoit, that’s what I’ve been saying about in-flight wifi for the past year or more. I don’t care if it’s cheap or even if it’s free, my laptop’s battery wipes out after an hour. And of the many airports I visit every year, very very few have enough outlets to go around when at least half the travelers present need to charge.
5:00 PM PT
Agree with Constance - I was in Seattle/Tacoma recently & looked for an outlet at the gate so I wouldn’t burn battery waiting to board the plane.
Nonexistent.
I do have better luck re: battery, though; the high capacity battery I got with my Dell Vostro lasts almost 4 hours (I know because my son & I watched 3 plus episodes of “Band of Brothers” each way on our trip).
5:57 PM PT
Regarding airport outlets, I always take a three-way plug splitter with me when traveling. That way no one objects when I show up to share an outlet.
8:28 AM PT
How much will it cost? SW sells on not nickel and diming the customer, but it doesn’t seem like this could be a freeby.
4:09 PM PT
That’s awesome. There are times when I am making a coast-to-coast flight that I need access to the computer to check email. Though most of Southwest’s legs aren’t that long, it is still great to know that we can access the internet, if needed.
8:03 PM PT
That’s awesome! I love what Jetblue did with the seat TV’s. I think flying has improved a lot in my lifetime.