IM'ing at 30,000 Feet
instantmessagingplanet.com
September 24, 2002
By Bob Woods
It's not quite the Internet, but it comes pretty close.
A new service from Verizon Airfone will let airline travelers on certain Airfone-equipped planes access services such as instant messaging (IM), online games, city guides and information like news, weather, sports scores and stock quotes.
Verizon Airfone's new JetConnect in-flight data service is already operational on several commercial aircraft, officials said. The service will expand to some 100 additional aircraft by year-end. Airfone is upgrading its in-flight voice and data network to offer a multitude of useful, entertaining communication services to airlines and their passengers.
Up to 46 passengers on a flight can simultaneously access the JetConnect service by plugging their laptops into jacks on the Verizon Airfone handset. Verizon initially will test various flat-rate fees for the service ranging from $5 to $10 per flight.
The JetConnect service operates on the existing Airfone network and does not increase an aircraft's weight or power consumption, officials said.
With JetConnect, passengers can use two-way IM to chat with users on the ground. Passenger-to-passenger IM is also available. Verizon Airfone is using its own technology for the IM service, which can also connect to AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger and Yahoo Messenger, a company spokesperson said. Passengers also have access to SMS messaging.
JetConnect will also provide news, weather, sports scores and stock quotes that are continuously updated every 15 minutes. Also available are city guides, entertainment articles and interactive games.
Airlines using the JetConnect service can also incorporate their own information into the system, including updated schedules, flight status and destination information.
Verizon Airfone is working with ScreamingMedia to create the JetConnect interactive portal and to provide sports, weather and stocks information. FluentMedia, a content solution from Tribune Company, is providing news and city information and GameHouse is providing Java-based games.
Verizon said it plans to add more JetConnect services such as high-speed e-mail and file downloading, although it did not say when.
Airfone's airline customers include Air Wisconsin Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Midwest Express Airlines, United Airlines, USAirways, AeroMexico, Alitalia, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Southern Airlines, Thai Airways International and Turkish Airlines.
Bob Woods is the managing editor of InstantMessagingPlanet.
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