Electronic flight bag specialist Flight Focus is leaping into the passenger cabin with a new low-cost wireless in-flight entertainment solution that will make its debut on Malaysian airline AirAsia X.
A partnership with media company Tune Box will see the Flight Focus "Platform" Class III EFB architecture leveraged to support the streaming of videos, television programming and audio selections provided by Tune Box.
AirAsia X, whose aircraft are fitted with Platform EFBs, has in turn signed a memorandum of understanding with Tune Box with a view to rolling out the wireless IFE solution from the first quarter of next year.
"We recognise that to make an IFE solution and to be able to generate ancillary income, we've got to get the cost all the way down and by integrating with Flight Focus's electronic flight bag, and actually utilising that server to actually stream and host the software, it makes the solution very, very affordable," said Tune Box co-founder Sami El Hadery.
He said Tune Box is in talks with studios for content and is "quite far down the line" with them. Airlines will have the option to allow passengers to access the service through their own devices or rent some form of tablet, or both.
Flight Focus managing director Ralf Cabos said that the arrangement was an example of how the Platform EFB "goes beyond the perception of a traditional EFB and provides a natural, scalable solution to a new generation of certified on-board services".
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Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
