|
Wifi In the SkyInnovators JetBlue and United Airlines are unrolling plans for wireless internet during flights domestically. BetaBlue, JetBlue's single wifi-equipped plane, allows passengers limited internet use (it only allows e-mail checking and instant messenger) but is nonetheless a great step forward from peanuts and half a can of coke. Though developmentally hindered by post-9/11 fears in the United States, Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emerates has already unveiled plans to go wireless and Lufthansa of Germany first implemented the technology in 2003. United Airlines is still in the planning phase of their offering airborne wifi, but, along with Verizon, attained the first FAA approval of wifi equipment 18 months ago, but the 802.11b and 802.11g wifi signals that were approved are now almost 9 and 5 years old, respectively. Airlines being reluctant to install the soon-to-be outdated equipment could mean another round of approvals that must be undergone before wifi becomes widely available in the sky. Main Press Page |
