High speed internet at 30,000 feet

[SysOpt]

Perhaps, but $20/hour is not a high price to pay considering that if you did want to get online using the crappy airfone, it would cost like $5/min (yeah, I've tried on three planes - it doesn't work at all).

Presumably this new internet access will
have nothing to do with the airfone. The reason why people don't want to pay for broadband in hotel rooms is because they can connect for free using their company dial-up accounts or nationwide ISP's. Or, they can just pick up a phone to ask someone a question, turn on the TV to find out stock info, etc. In an airplane, you're isolated, the phone is way pricey/sketchy, and there's no TV.

[TechJumper]

...and theres no tv


Why not? it seems plausible that, if they can install high-speed sat access (http://www.sysopt.com/news/gws/cdata/Forum1/HTML/000085.html) then why can't they tap into the dish direct systems to get us tv on the plane.


the phones ONLY work when you are trying to dial their shopping service to buy "flight wings" for 76.95 http://www.sysopt.com/news/gws/cdata/wink.gif

[TechJumper]

The concept is great, but has been tried and failed before (the hotel industry has lost a TON of money funding the high-bandwidth access for their guests. The problem was - no one wanted to use the access).

Perhaps the new travel company "Orbitz" can offer deals for using the high speed connections.


(I mean hey, who uses the little phone in the back of the seat anyway? http://www.sysopt.com/news/gws/cdata/wink.gif)
TJ



[This message has been edited by TechJumper (edited 06-14-2001).]

[Dovaka]

actually when i stay at a hotel i wont stay there unless they have internet access in the room and i use the the phone on the back of the seat several times well im on the plane and would love it if they had interent on the plan my only fear would be that they would make it propritory and you would have to buy hardware from them or some weird adapter like they did with headphones