A Second Life for Airborne Wi-Fi?

Thu Sep 21, 2006 3:21AM EDT

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Though Boeing may have pulled the plug on its airplane Wi-Fi program, an unlikely hero has come in to pick it up.

That hero is Panasonic, which says it has "a complete system designed, developed, and ready to go... but we're determined to avoid one of the things that brought Connexion down – lack of an initial fleet big enough to assure acceptable pricing for the airlines," according to Inflight Online.

The plan is to get 500 aircraft signed up in the next 60 days before Panasonic gives the project a green light. Though the story doesn't mention it, there's still that nagging issue of FAA approval lurking, and given the still-running UK laptop ban and the worldwide fear of exploding batteries, this approval can hardly be on the fast track. Still, any news about keeping plane-bound Wi-Fi projects alive is good news. Here's hoping that Panasonic makes the project a success.

More news as it develops. Hopefully within 60 days...

Comments on A Second Life for Airborne Wi-Fi?

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  • 1 Posted by scottiecordes on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think the key to getting this to work is this: 1. LCD screens and a pull out keyboard in the back of seats. No laptops. Build it into the planes. 2. Make it affordable for the average Joe. If it is too expensive, only the big wig executives will buy it, and then it will fail again.

  • 2 Posted by jairaj on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    Finally, as long as they keep it under $10 (the average allowance companies give their employees) this idea should work. However this would only work on flights over 2 hours. I am a consumate laptop user on flights however I don't find it worth it to boot up unless the flight is longer than 2 hours cause almost 45 minutes to 1 hour of a flight is no-electronic use time.

  • 3 Posted by jillbeucler on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    I can not wait. I have spent so many useless hours on planes that I could have been working and getting things done.

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