JetBlue Offers First In-flight E-mail In US
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: jetblue, in-flight, email
New York (NY) - For years it has been a rumor and a near reality, but now it’s actually happening - airline passengers will be able to access full e-mail and IM services at tens of thousands of feet above ground.
The service begins on JetBlue’s flight from New York City to San Francisco tomorrow, and according to the Associated Press will roll out very soon to other routes serviced by the domestic airline.
There is no additional fee to access the Wi-Fi services, but there is a catch. Users are only allowed to visit e-mail and instant messaging, and only from related Yahoo sites. Yahoo reportedly struck a deal with JetBlue to offer the exclusive services, and JetBlue says the restricted access is to prevent bandwidth overload.
The service is offered by LiveTV, a JetBlue subsidiary that also powers the in-flight entertainment systems in every plane in JetBlue’s fleet. LiveTV bought the wireless spectrum in an FCC auction last year.
It has since gained the approval from the same organization to allow users to open up the wireless signals in mid-flight. The signals are different than those used for cell phones, which will remain banned during flights.
-
Previous News Article
CompUSA To Be Sold Off In Parts -
Next News Article
Real-time Traffic Key Feature...
8 photos
56 photos
2 photos
42 photos
Eh... this is all marketing propaganda. Lufthanza has been doing this for at least two years.
Oh, and a computer mouse is the latest in hardware.
That sounds neet, so at 30,000ft above the ground I can still keep in touch with my friends on yahoo messenger...does that include other instant messaging programs as Windows messenger and google talk?
P.S.: that would be so practical for those WiFi smart phones or those who don't mind carrying their bulky laptops on board...watch your own movies AND talk to your friends...
I just hope the service is ONLY for email and Messenger.
Or people will be yacking on skype the whole trip.
"Eh... this is all marketing propaganda. Lufthanza has been doing this for at least two years.
Oh, and a computer mouse is the latest in hardware."
"JetBlue Offers First In-flight E-mail In US"
Billed as a "service," the access limitation means this is merely an opportunity for LiveTV, a JetBlue subsidiary, and Yahoo to shove advertising down the throat of a captive audience.
So much for Net Neutrality at 30,000 feet. I'll avoid this airline as one which seized it as an opportunity to make me join THEIR service instead of providing me a service.
This is not new. Boeing had a service called ConneXion by Boeing that gave full broadband access in flight. But not enough airlines ordered it and it was a money loser so they shut it down at the end of 2005.
Why is it that the US is so far behind the times on this type of thing. Two years ago I flew to Sweden on SAS and used my WiFi laptop to watch my SLING-box from the plan, then the train, and the boat from Stockholm to Helsinki! The rest of the world is used to unrestricted portable bandwidth and the user decides how they want to use it. (locked cell phones ring a bell) Here in the US is all about restrictions, dominations and control, land of the free? I think not.