Internet service provider Tenzing plans to launch flight trials of its in-flight e-mail/Internet services by next September.
The Redmond, Washington-based company demonstrated its FlightConnect e-mail service for the first time at the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA) show last month. It has signed up an airline for flight trials, says Larry McPhail, director of airline sales and agreements. Although Tenzing declines to identify the airline, Flight International understands that it is Cathay Pacific Airways.
FlightConnect, being developed for airline passenger use, will allow passengers to use their own e-mail addresses in-flight.
On the ground, passengers establish an account and download the software onto a personal computer, which can be accessed in flight. Passengers will pay subscriptions for the service, says McPhail, adding that the subscription models have yet to be established for the system.
FlightConnect will operate via satellite communications or the US NATS terrestrial in-flight telephony network. Demonstrations at the show used the Inmarsat-M satcom service, with e-mails grouped, compressed and sent via 2.4kbit/s data service.
Airline interest has been "spectacular", says McPhail. Tenzing has signed a memorandum of understanding with SITA whereby the communications specialist will provide the FlightConnect service over its Satellite Aircom network.
E-mail is the latest in-flight service for which passengers are clamouring if the number of potential e-mail service providers at this year's WAEA show is anything to go by.
At least five communication service providers and hardware/ avionics manufacturers - AT&T, BT, Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and Tenzing - demonstrated e-mail/Internet-based services at the show, while others say that they are investigating them.
Source: Flight International
