Over the last decade the Internet has grown by leaps and bounds. With the increase in high-speed DSL, WiFi, mobile Internet, and other technologies now readily available in most areas of the United States, it seems like there are very few places left that are unconnected. Except, of course, for airplanes.
You can go online in your car, at a hotel, at coffee shops, and with mobile Internet technology, pretty much everywhere else. But up until now, airline flights have remained “off limits” for high-speed (or any speed) Internet access.
And ironically, airline flights are one of the places where we need Internet access the most. I think by now we are all sick to death of the lame in-flight movies and brittle plastic headphones offered on most flights.
We could certainly pass the time much better by checking our e-mail, laughing at stupid videos on YouTube, or adding MP3s to our music collections on Amazon.com or iTunes. And now, JetBlue Airways is proposing a solution to the usual boring no-net flights.
Beginning next week, JetBlue will offer “limited” e-mail and instant messaging services for free on some of its flights. However, this initial effort to include in-flight Internet access will begin very meagerly. For example, passengers will not be able to download or open e-mail attachments, or do any general web surfing because of a limited bandwidth on board.
The service will be available to laptops and palm tops with WiFi access limited to e-mail and text messaging via Yahoo. So if you prefer to use Gtalk or AIM, you’re out of luck for now; but (perhaps) it’s better than nothing.
Blackberry users will also be able to connect via WiFi and check personal and business e-mail, but the service is limited to only two current Blackberry models that have inbuilt WiFi capability.
On a brighter note, American Airlines is one of several carriers planning to experiment with a fee-based in-flight Internet service that will provide greater flexibility than JetBlue’s limited Yahoo-only connection. With any luck, by mid-2008 there may be a lot of competition for in-flight Internet access, leading to lower prices, and a greater degree of flexibility for surfing “in the air.”
And speaking as a bona fide web aficionado, I think I can safely say that what we really want on planes is high-speed wireless Internet access that can be used with any Internet ready device. Of course, this also means no bandwidth limitations, and the ability to surf the Web just as we would at home. Considering how the airlines have dragged their feet when it comes to in-flight Internet though, this may be asking a lot.
At any rate, at least JetBlue is making an effort. And with American Airlines and other carriers hot on their heels, hopefully it won’t be long before we are all just as “wired” in the air as we are on the ground.
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[...] Under the new EU ruling, Flyers will be allowed to use mobile phones on board an aircraft once it reaches 10,000 feet. Laptops, iPods and other electronic devices will also be allowed once the plane reaches this height, and travelers with so-called smart phones will be allowed to send and receive e-mails, and even surf the Web on their phone, thought they will have to pay extra for an internet connection. [...]
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