14 DAY TRIAL // AirCell, the leading telecommunications provider for the business aviation market, announced a partnership with American Airlines to launch a new in-flight broadband service across the U.S. AirCell's service will give passengers high-speed wireless Internet access from any Wi-Fi capable device, while flying on board an airplane. The rollout of the service is scheduled to begin in early 2008 and will initially cover the entire U.S. continental territory, to be expanded at a later date to the rest of North America, including Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
"We understand that broadband connectivity is important to our business customers and others who want to use their PDAs and laptops for real-time, in-flight broadband communications," said Dan Garton, Executive Vice President - Marketing for American Airlines. "This is part of our continuing effort to take the lead in enhancing the travel experience for our customers and meet their evolving needs."
The 2006 winner of the FCC's exclusive broadband frequency license, AirCell will launch the high-speed Internet service using its advanced air-to-ground network, which encompasses the latest technology to transmit and receive data between the ground and the aircraft. AirCell broadband is designed to be an easy-to-install, plug-in option to the AirCell Axxess communications system aboard the aircraft. Because it will use commercially available technology and an air-to-ground link, hardware requirements are minimal and costs will be relatively low.
"Travelers are already bringing their own Wi-Fi enabled devices onto planes. Bringing broadband access onto domestic flights at an everyday, affordable price provides travelers the opportunity to recapture time. Making productive use of the time in the air will give them time back on the ground with family or just relaxing," said Jack Blumenstein, CEO of AirCell. "Airline customers across the U.S. list broadband access in flight as one of their top wishes. As the first airline to deploy broadband access, American is demonstrating its commitment to the business traveler and to its industry-leading position in technological innovation."
The cost of the broadband service on American Airlines will be announced at the time of service rollout.