Alaska Airlines today announced the launch of its customer trial of satellite-based Wi-Fi service. Named Alaska Airlines Inflight Wi-Fi (FAQ), the service is free for now but Alaska will likely charge a fee after the 60-day trial, says the Seattle Times. The airline will later extend the service throughout its fleet. Alaska is working with satellite-based Row 44 on the project. But the service won’t be available on flights to Alaska, at least at first.
The 60-day trial will be free and offered on afternoon flights between Seattle and San Jose, CA. After the trial period, the airline will develop a schedule for expanding the offering to other flights and airplanes, including Alaskan service. The Wi-Fi service is designed for laptops and handhelds, even VoIP over WiFi. Cell phone use is banned by the FCC on U.S. flights. VoIP over Wi-Fi policy may vary on different airlines.
Meanwhile OnAir, another satellite-based WiFi provider, uses SwiftBroadband, the latest spotbeam technology from Inmarsat, which also offers GSM and GPRS for voice, data and Internet. British Airways plans to launch in-flight communications on its new all-business class route from London to New York using OnAir.
Aircell, in contrast, utilizes a network of terrestrial-based cell towers across the United States. That precludes connections on international flights and Alaskan flights.
Aircell’s Gogo Inflight WiFi service will be available for United customers traveling in all classes of service for a flat fee of $12.95. It will initially be available on the 13 Boeing 757 aircraft that fly between New York’s JFK and California’s two largest airports, in LA and San Francisco. The service is also available on select American Airlines flights, Virgin America flights, United Airlines flights, and many Delta flights. Delta expects to have more than 330 aircraft complete by summer 2009. Gogo WiFi service typically costs passengers $9.95 on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours.
JetBlue Airways has been testing limited wireless access on one of its aircraft. JetBlue and other airlines, such as Continental, use LiveTV’s satellite-based television programming service. JetBlue, which owns LiveTV, won rights to 1 MHz of the 800-MHz spectrum last year for their internet service.
LiveTV asked the FCC to require Row 44 to demonstrate how its system design would operate “on a non-interference basis” with its provider, ViaSat. ViaSat has accused Row 44 with unauthorized operations.
The NY Times says Not Everyone Is Cheering as Wi-Fi Takes to the Air.
In other news, Airtight Networks, a wireless security firm, recently sent hackers to 20 U.S. airports to check out their security, reports CBS station WBZ-TV in Boston. Their results: 97-percent of users were vulnerable. Airtight says airports are natural targets for hackers. F-Secure says their Mobile Security software works invisibly in the background and works on Symbian and Windows Mobile, scanning all network traffic and monitoring the device for malware.
Related DailyWireless stories include; Southwest Air Tests PlaneFi, American Airlines Launches Wi-Fi, Aircell WiFi on Delta Airlines, Aircell: We Be 4G, Aircell Takes Off, Row 44: Cleared for Take Off, Bill Banning Airplane Calls Moves Ahead, JetBlue Buys Airfone, FAA: Go For Aircell Launch , Aircell Vs Row44: Two for Two, FlyFi Takes Off, Lufthansa & AA Trying WiFi — Again, Inflight Phones Banned by FAA?, AirCell on Virgin by 2008, Wireless Voice on Airplanes? Yes & No, AirCell Demos Inflight WiFi, Aircell for Planes, FCC Rules on Airplane Cellular, Connexion On Again?, Dis Connexion.
