Travelers May Soon Work, Fight Boredom with In-Air Internet Access
Sep. 15 (Chicago Tribune/KRTBN)--BURBANK, Calif.--In a season that has seen thousands of air travelers fidgeting in their seats while planes are parked on runways or rerouted to undesired destinations, a diversion may be on the horizon aimed at making the wait less onerous. Or at least more productive.
On Thursday, two giants of the technology business unveiled an airborne broadband computer system that would conquer one of the frontiers of the wired world: Allowing passengers to be totally hooked into the World Wide Web and other entertainment and information outlets while they're in the air.
That means surfing the Web, exchanging e-mails, joining chat rooms, downloading Hollywood movies, manipulating stock portfolios, programming home VCRs and teleconferencing with business associates at the home office--all while cruising at 35,000 feet.
Whether business travelers will be glad to turn Seat 17D into a complete flying office--no more reading those fascinating in-flight magazines instead of sending memos to the boss--remains to be seen. But certainly it has the potential to change the culture of flying as surely as the Internet has changed the workplace on the ground.
Unveiled with much fanfare on and above Southern California, In-Flight Network LLC, of Hiawatha, Iowa, lured hundreds of local movers and shakers to the Burbank and Santa Monica airports for a sneak preview of the system, which is scheduled for takeoff late next year.
In-Flight Network is a joint venture of telecommunications giant News Corp. and aerospace firm Rockwell Collins. Other partners include Qualcomm, Loral Space & Communications and Globalstar.
The system won't require flight attendants to become computer geeks in addition to suitcase stuffers, amateur psychiatrists, baby wranglers and bartenders.
"We'll provide 24/7 support services via the Internet and phones," said Robert Carpenter, director of airline marketing for In-Flight Network, acknowledging that another such system had failed because flight attendants had to become computer experts.
Meanwhile, Boeing Co. is developing a global communications network of its own, and discussing possible alliances with carriers. Like In-Flight Network, Connexion by Boeing will provide an array of high-speed data communication services via a space-based network.
A spokesman said those services will be provided for about the same price as cellular phone service. Boeing also foresees launching Connexion by Boeing in North America in late 2001.
Carpenter said In-Flight Network "will have all the services you can find at home or in an office--not just the Internet, but virtual private networks." "While there is a strong demand from business interests, we see a global launch on commercial and corporate carriers sometime in the fourth quarter of 2001. We're talking with major airlines that are going to put In-Flight Network on seats and make it available to anyone who has a laptop device ... just like hooking up in a hotel room," he added.
Some carriers were taking a wait-and-see attitude. "Certainly, the technology sounds interesting and, if they've approached us, we'll be studying it to see if it's something our customers need or want," said Christine Turneabe-Connelly, of Southwest Airlines. "But, being a no-frills carrier, we'll also have to evaluate it as to whether it fits into our cost structure and how it might affect our fares."
Telecommunicating with the home office may not be every business traveler's idea of a pleasant flight home. Already tethered to a cell phone and pager, the last thing many business travelers want is broadband access to office memos, gossip and an impatient boss.
Other laptop jockeys, however, might see it as an easy way to cut down on homework.
"What we're finding is that if business commuters can get back those three to six hours of time they spend on a plane, they'll grab it," said Carpenter. "It doesn't matter if a flight is cross-country or just up the coast. If they can recapture that time by staying in touch via e-mail and the Internet, they're quite anxious to do so."
One passenger trying out the system on a test flight was balancing conversations in three separate chat rooms while keeping track of his stock portfolio. At the same time, a strategically placed Webcam allowed In-Flight Network executives to conduct a ground-to-air interview with a reporter from Chicago.
"We're in discussions with all the world's major airlines," said company CEO Jeffrey Wales. "We anticipate having them as our partners in this business, whether that involves direct revenue sharing and/or equity ownership ... it will be a cooperative network. The cost of this is not something that's going to be a big burden to the airlines."
Indeed, the antennas that interface with the global network of communications satellites are barely noticeable on top of the plane. There are large directional pods beneath both wings, but that's only because there was so little room on top of the flying communications lab for another circular antenna.
At the moment, In-Flight Network is leasing 1 megabit of broadband capacity per second for the Saber 50. A typical commercial airliner is expected to need 15 megabits per second, which should provide service for all those on board who request it.
The cost of the In-Flight Network service likely will match other Internet providers on the ground. Customers will get unlimited access for a monthly fee roughly equivalent to what is charged by existing DSL, cable and wireless services.
"With advances we're seeing in technology and licensing--the FAA, and so forth--we anticipate seeing a wireless application, where you can walk on board the aircraft, plug in a wireless network card, and just sit in your seat and use it," said Carpenter.
When the broadcast networks make their inevitable moves to the Internet and other forms of digital delivery, passengers will be able to monitor their favorite TV soaps, sitcoms and sports.
And as more homes are wired to network with their owners via the Internet, travelers will be able to observe what's going on while they're away, thanks to strategically placed Webcams. Police can be alerted to unusual activity observed from hundreds of miles away, and lights and thermostats can be adjusted with the flick of a mouse.
Wales recounted how he was able to alert a family member-- who was otherwise pre-occupied in the backyard--to the misbehavior of their dogs inside the house. While he watched the animals chew up their furniture, he was able to use the broadband network to connect with his wife's cellphone.
Wales, who also is a senior vice president with News Corp., expects that the airlines will find it in their interest to rent laptops to passengers, or, perhaps, install computers on seatbacks. Producers and lessors of private jets likewise may see the product as an attractive option, similar to the Internet and satellite radio devices that soon will be available to motorists.
One wrinkle yet to be ironed out is how to redefine some of the vernacular used by computer jockeys. For instance, when the system goes down--as it inevitably will--and a passenger loses everything on the screen, it would be unfortunate if that person complained to the flight attendant about a "crash."
A jet equipped for full Internet use by its passengers takes off this week in Burbank, Calif.
By Gary Dretzka
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