Alexander Turcic
12-16-2004, 02:19 PM
This is bad news for Boeing's exclusive "Connexion" technology, which uses satellites to get air passengers online. Associated Press reports (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&ncid=738&e=1&u=/ap/20041215/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/fcc_air_travelers) that the Federal Communications Commission on Wednesday approved technology giving airlines what could be a cheaper option to provide Internet connections.
Unlike Connexion, which costs roughly USD $500,000 per jet to install the needed equipment, airlines can now offer high-speed Internet connections for 1/5th of the costs through the frequencies used by seatback phones.
The article also mentioned the possible end of the ban on in-flight use of cell phones. Unfortunately, results of an independent study aren't due until 2006.
Update: Here is a link (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-255345A1.pdf) to the official FCC statement on broadband services while in-flight.
[Article first seen at PDA247]
Unlike Connexion, which costs roughly USD $500,000 per jet to install the needed equipment, airlines can now offer high-speed Internet connections for 1/5th of the costs through the frequencies used by seatback phones.
The article also mentioned the possible end of the ban on in-flight use of cell phones. Unfortunately, results of an independent study aren't due until 2006.
Update: Here is a link (http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-255345A1.pdf) to the official FCC statement on broadband services while in-flight.
[Article first seen at PDA247]