Boeing sponsored one of those Connexion Wi-Fi press junkets yesterday, says Robert Scoble. Professional journalists from the Wall Street Journal, NPR, Seattle Times, and others got rides around Mt Rainier. Chris Pirillo has a video (wmv) of the laptopping passengers circling Mount Rainier.
I’ve never been on a better flight – never had so much fun on a plane. Could be that I was surrounded by friends, could be that I was sitting in a very comfortable seat? The novelty of wireless connectivity wore off quickly, but its continued application is much more noteworthy.I find myself anxious to see which domestic airline is gonna get Wi-Fi on board first! I’d trade in all my future soda, pillows, and lousy snacks for guaranteed Internet access with a power outlet on every flight from here on out. Who wouldn’t? Is anybody allergic to Wi-Fi?
What some folks are saying:
- Chris is IM’ing from 30,000 feet
- theAdamBomb – Blogging at 30,000 Feet
- Videoblogging from 30,000 feet
- Flight photos and (short) video
- Scobleizer
- MAKE at 30,000 feet!
- molly.com Sky Blogging
- Chatting with Chris Pirillo from the Connexion by Boeing
- BuzzMachine… by Jeff Jarvis
- This WEEK in TECH (ram) likes it. Worth $30.
It was part of the Blog Business Summit held this week in Seattle.
Meanwhile, the possibility that airlines may soon be cleared for cell phone use has raised alarms with security officials, flight attendants, and many of the flying public, reports USA Today.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have both warned that terrorists could use cell phones to coordinate attacks with people on the ground, in other planes, or even in different parts of the same plane. So if routine cell phone use is allowed, officials want the ability to record and track all airborne calls, down to the caller’s seat number. That, in turn, has raised concerns among privacy advocates, who say that the government shouldn’t be keeping records of private calls.
“The FAA is not changing its rules [on cell phones in airplanes],” FAA Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety, Nicholas Sabatini told the House aviation subcommittee this week.
The press junket may have been useful in getting Boeing some favorable press after investing hundreds of millions in their in-cabin WiFi system. Voice is data in a VoIP connection, of course. Boeing needs all the friends it can get. They still haven’t signed up any domestic U.S. airlines for the service.
Conveniently, Singapore Airlines (SIA) also announced today that Connexion would bring live television news and sports broadcasts onboard flights between London and Singapore. SIA expects to extend it to customers’ individual seat-back screens next year. Passengers with wireless-enabled laptops can watch live broadcasts by four international channels, including BBC World, Euro News, Eurosportnews and CNBC.
