Inflight Broadband and Laptop Power to Every Seat... on Qantas

Flying down under? Starting in August 2008 Qantas's Airbus A380s will offer laptop power in every seat, and wireless broadband throughout the plane. Older planes are also being retrofitted with laptop power and other in-flight entertainment features, starting in February 2008.

Qantas is really pulling out all the stops on this one. In addition to the WWAN service, planes will include both USB and Ethernet ports at each seat. You'll be able to use the USB ports to view content stored on the planes' inflight entertainment systems as well as recharging USB devices like iPods. Ethernet ports would provide connectivity for non-wireless devices (not that I can think of any), but might also be used if the Wi-Fi network gets overloaded, which could be a problem on a plane loaded with a few hundred people, all trying to use one access point. New seat-back video screens will also offer "PC style" gaming, allegedly beyond the Tetris and Solitaire variety.

Pricing hasn't been announced, but signs point to pretty reasonable fees, maybe $10 to $20 per flight. The only catch, of course, is that you have to be flying on Qantas!

So, how about it, FAA? Us pathetic Americans are still stranded in those tiny seats with nothing but peanut-free snack mix. Boeing's Connexion service is dead and buried, and nothing seems to have materialized from Panasonic's plan to revive the service late last year. Someone save us from "NBC In-Flight." I WANT MY AIRBORNE WI-FI!