Wed, 02 Feb 2005

Global Travel Agents Agree: Connexion by Boeing is the World Leader

In-Flight Internet Service Receives World Travel Award for Second Year Running

LONDON, Feb. 1, 2005 - Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of The Boeing Company [NYSE:BA], has won the World's Leading High-Speed In-flight Internet Service Provider award for the second year running, as announced at the 11th annual World Travel Awards in Barbados.

Leaders from the world's airline and travel industries recognized the Connexion by BoeingSM real-time, high-speed Internet service for its technological superiority over that of the other contenders (Tenzing, AirTV, Airshow and Netvigator Inflight) for this highest honor in the Travel Technology category, a new category established in 2003.

Established in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence, the World Travel Award is the highest honor in the world's travel and tourism industry. "With it's service to bring broadband Internet, data, and entertainment connectivity to mobile travelers Connexion by Boeing keeps the modern day travelers connected with work and home, which is why it is truly recognized by the global travel industry," said Graham Cooke, President and Founder of World Travel Awards. "World Travel Awards recognizes the best of the best in the travel industry".

"We are truly proud that global travel agents recognize the value and benefits our service can provide through its ability to connect our airline customers and their passengers," said Connexion by Boeing President Laurette Koellner. "We look forward to bringing that flight-enhancing experience to the traveling public as we introduce connectivity and revolutionary new levels of service aboard leading airlines around the world."

The World's Leading High Speed Inflight Internet Service Provider trophy 2004 will reside in the Boeing office in London (UK) as a sense of pride for the entire team and admiration by visiting airline customers.

About Connexion by Boeing

Connexion by Boeing is, for the second year running, the recipient of the World Travel Award for World's Leading High-Speed In-flight Internet Services Provider and recently was named one of the wireless companies to watch in 2005 by IDC wireless services analysts. Through a broadband connection to an equipped aircraft, high-speed Internet, data and entertainment connectivity is delivered directly to travelers in flight. Connexion by Boeing has definitive agreements with Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System), Japan Airlines, ANA, China Airlines and Kingdom Holding Co. to equip their long-haul aircraft with the service. In addition, Korean Air and Asiana have announced their intent to install the Connexion by Boeing system on their long-range aircraft. Connexion by Boeing also offers a high-speed connectivity solution for the business aviation and maritime markets. For more information, please visit www.connexionbyboeing.com.

About World Travel Awards

The World Travel Awards was conceived in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. Now in its eleventh year, travel professionals and discerning travelers have come to regard the World Travel Awards as the very best endorsement that a travel product could hope to receive. www.worldtravelawards.com

Boeing, GoRemote complete deal

The Boeing Co. and GoRemote Internet Communications Inc., a business dealing in managed network systems, have signed an agreement concerning Boeing's Connexion by Boeing unit, officials announced Monday morning.

Under the deal, Boeing will deliver in-flight broadband access to GoRemote's customers.

Connexion by Boeing is a broadband connection delivered to in-flight travelers. The service is currently available on flights by Lufthansa, SAS, Japan Airlines and ANA.

David Friedman, Connexion by Boeing's vice president of marketing and direct sales, says "travelers want to remain connected to what's important to them while they are on the road or in the air."

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

GoRemote, (NASDAQ: GRIC), is based in Milpitas, Calif.

Boeing (NYSE: BA), is based in Chicago. It is the largest employer in Wichita.

For more, go to www.connexionbyboeing.com.

Scandinavian Airlines and Connexion by Boeing bring In-Flight Internet Access to Seattle Passengers


14 February 2005


Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) is to be the first international carrier to introduce the Connexion by Boeing wireless in-flight Internet service to the Seattle market on flights between Seattle and Copenhagen, Denmark – one of the most frequented “gateway” routes to Europe from the Pacific Northwest.

“We are marking a new era in travel and aviation history as we rapidly expand North American availability of high-speed in-flight connectivity though our partnerships with SAS and our other airline customers,” said Connexion by Boeing President Laurette Koellner. “Not only are we opening a new world of possibilities for passengers traveling from Seattle to Europe to more fully enjoy their travel experience – we are also enabling these airlines to use technology to further reduce operational costs by relying on simple wireless networks instead of complex, hard-wired cabin solutions.”

The equipping of the Scandinavian air carrier’s long-haul aircraft with Connexion by Boeing’s high-speed in-flight Internet service means Pacific Northwest passengers going to and from Europe will now have access to the World Wide Web; two-way, real-time e-mail and their corporate intranet, including virtual private network capability. Users can choose from a flat rate of US $29.95 dollars for the entire flight or a metered option of US $9.95 for 30 minutes and 25 cents per minute thereafter.

“We are excited to bring our customers more ways to spend their time in-flight and stay in touch with the office, friends and family from the air,” said Palle Christensen, vice president and general manager, Western U.S. and Canada, Scandinavian Airlines. “Additionally, this market is especially important to SAS because it is home to our two largest corporate accounts in North America, Boeing and Microsoft. This service will give their employees the tools and technology they need to take their in-flight productivity to new heights while also providing new avenues of web-based entertainment for leisure travelers.”

SAS initially began offering the Connexion by Boeing service late last year on select flights between Seattle and Copenhagen and plans to complete the service installation aboard its long-haul fleet, which includes Airbus A340 and A330 aircraft, by March 2005.

"My experience using the new Wi-Fi service from Connexion by Boeing on a SAS flight was no different than if I’d been sitting in my office on the ground,” explained Julian Gregory, a London-based businessman and frequent business traveler. “The service was fast, affordable and easy to log on to – plus, I was able to communicate with my colleagues and get a ton of work done just sitting in my airplane seat.”


Broadband in the sky flies in
SAS to add in-flight Net access on all long-haul routes.

By Martyn Williams, IDG News Service

Broadband Internet access will soon be available across all Scandinavian Airline System long-haul flights.

SAS will offer Boeing's Connexion service on all such flights from next month, and immediately on flights between Copenhagen and Seattle. It has been offering the service on a trial basis since last year. Seattle is home to SAS's two largest corporate account customers in North America: Microsoft and Boeing.

Connexion provides suitably equipped aircraft with a satellite-linked Internet connection of about 5Mbit/s downstream from the Internet to the aircraft, and 1Mbit/s upstream from the aircraft to the Internet. The service is offered throughout the aircraft via wired LAN connections or wireless LAN, depending on the aircraft's configuration. Users pay $30 for access throughout the flight or $10 for 30 minutes and $0.25 for each additional minute.

The connection supports all major Internet functions including e-mail, Web browsing, instant messaging, multimedia streaming and corporate network access via a virtual private network (VPN). Trials of a new service offering live television will begin this year with Singapore Airlines.

Boeing had signed firm deals for the service with six airlines covering 177 aircraft as of the end of 2004, it said in its earnings announcement last week. Connexion entered commercial service in May last year when Lufthansa began offering it on flights between Europe and the US.

Japan's All Nippon Airways began offering the service on flights between Tokyo and Shanghai in November, and Japan Airlines started the service in December on flights between Tokyo and London. Boeing has also signed a deal with Taiwan's China Airlines and preliminary deals with South Korea's Asiana Airlines and Korean Air.

Wireless In The Sky: OnAir, Boingo Ink Deals
By Susan Rush
February 16, 2005
news@2 direct

OnAir sealed an agreement with Airbus to provide its in-flight communications system as a standard option for its aircraft, which could lead to in-flight wireless chats. Separately, Boingo Wireless inked an agreement that will enable its customers to roam in mid air.

OnAir, a joint venture between Airbus and SITA Information Networking Computing, says the system will enable passengers to not only connect to the Internet, but also use their mobile devices, including phones and PDAs, to communicate with people on the ground and other passengers on the plane.

In-flight Internet use to debut next month

February 19, 2005 ㅡ In-flight Internet access will be offered on flights in and out of Korea for the first time starting next month.
Lufthansa-Korea said yesterday it will begin providing in-flight Internet access on its Incheon-Frankfurt route in early March. The service will be available for all passengers with laptops; there will be half-hour and full-flight rates.
Korean Air is scheduled to offer Internet access starting in May on flights to the United States and Europe. Asiana Airlines will introduce it in July.
Korea's Ministry of Information and Communication has not been allowing in-flight Internet use for fear that it would interfere with communication networks. But the ministry said Thursday it would allocate specific frequencies for the service, which was developed by a Boeing subsidiary.

Inflight Connectivity takes flight in Singapore Airlines
7 March 2005


From today, Singapore Airlines’ passengers can stay truly connected, 35,000 feet in the air, as colleagues, friends and loved ones are literally just a mouse click away.

Singapore Airlines is offering travellers Connexion by Boeing, an inflight broadband service that provides passengers with real-time, high-speed and secure Internet connectivity inflight. With this service, passengers with a wireless-enabled laptop can send and receive emails, connect real-time with their corporate virtual private network to stay connected as if they are on the ground.

“This new Internet service opens up a whole new world of entertainment, information and business options for our customers. Clearly, we are not stopping here and will continue to add new applications to further enhance the system,” said Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice President, Product and Services, Mr Yap Kim Wah.

Besides providing broadband connectivity service, Singapore Airlines’ customers will be the first to view live TV onboard an international flight. Four channels of live TV, featuring top international news providers, will be available for viewing via passengers’ laptops from June 2005. In later phases, live TV will be available in every seat, enabling passengers to cheer along with spectators in stadiums as sports channels are added to the menu.

The price for this service, set by Connexion by Boeing, is as follows:
Flight Duration
0 to 3 hours 3 to 6 hours Over 6 hours
Plan 1 - Internet Flight:
Fixed Rate, unlimited usage US$14.95 US$19.95 US$29.95

Plan 2 - Internet Minutes:
Metered or “pay as you use” 30-minute starter package for US$ 7.95 with rates of US$0.25 per minute thereafter. 30-minute starter package for US$ 9.95 with rates of US$0.25 per minute thereafter.

During the first two weeks following the launch, Singapore Airlines is offering a special rate to passengers who sign up for the Internet Flight Plan (Plan 1) for flights exceeding 6 hours. During the promotion period, customers will receive a US$10 discount from the usual rate of US$29.95.

A free text chat assistance service, manned by experienced customer care representatives from Connexion by Boeing, is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should passengers have any queries about the service whilst inflight. Through the live text chat service, passengers also have the freedom to switch between the two price plans even after signing onto the service, should they find it more economical to do so.

Passengers with SingNet Business Class Roaming or StarHub Wireless BroadBand accounts can login using their assigned roaming user IDs and passwords. Their Connexion by Boeing usage charges will then be reflected in their monthly SingNet or StarHub bills.

Singapore Airlines launched this new service on its daily Singapore-London flights (SQ320 and SQ321) and plans to introduce this service progressively to other long haul flights.

JAL expands in-flight Internet access to Tokyo-New York flights
2 May 2005


Japan Airlines is to expand its in-flight Internet connection service to flights between Tokyo-New York (JL006/005) from May 10,2005. Provided by Connection by Boeing the "JAL Inflight Internet Service" enables passengers to use their own wireless LAN compatible personal computers to enjoy real-time Internet access during flight.

Using VPN (Virtual Private Network) technology, the "JAL Inflight Internet Service" also enables passengers to access securely their company's network, email and intranet site. Additionally, passengers can access free of charge JAL’s in-flight portal site which contains a selection of content such as company product and service information.

Initially the service will be available on alternate days but towards the end of June it will be available daily.

To commemorate the opening of the Tokyo-New York service, JAL will offer customers a US$10.00 discount for the service, up to July 15, 2005. Pamphlets distributed in-flight contain details on how to apply for the US$10.00 discount.

Boingo's Wi-Fi Takes Flight
By Susan Rush
May 11, 2005
NEWS@2 DIRECT

Boingo Wireless has officially launched its Wi-Fi service through its previously announced partnership with Connexion by Boeing.

The companies first announced plans to give Boingo customers in-flight access in February. At the time of the announcement, the companies said their networks had to be integrated. Now that that has happened, Boingo customers have the ability to connect on airlines that sport the Connexion by Boeing service, including aircraft owned by Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Japan Airlines and ANA. Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, Korean Air and Asiana plan to introduce the service on select flights later this year.


The in-flight Wi-Fi service is only available on international flights, but Boingo expects to add domestic flights within the United States in the future.

To entice customers to take its service along with them in flight, Boingo is offering its in-flight Wi-Fi connection to customers free of charge when they sign a 3-month customer contract with Boingo. The in-flight Wi-Fi connection has a $29.99 value, according to Boingo.

Boingo also has platform partnerships in place with EarthLink, Fiberlink, BT Infonet Services Corporation, MCI and Telecom Italia.

Boingo's hot spot network currently consists of more than 17,000 locations, which span restaurants, hotels and airports.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Boeing Co. (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research) unit Connexion said Tuesday it will provide about four live television channels to airline passengers using laptop computers on select flights in a bid to expand its in-flight wireless Internet service.

Connexion sets up so-called wireless hotspots in the sky by using satellites to deliver the Internet to planes and extending these links to passenger laptops via Wi-Fi, or short-range wireless links that work on most laptops.

It hopes to popularize this service, which currently works on certain flights for about 11 airlines, by adding live TV news from programmers such as the BBC World Service, CNBC, MSNBC, EuroNews and Eurosportnews at no extra charge.

"We believe, based on our business case, we'll see an increase in use of our service that will make up for the additional cost over the life of the contracts," said Connexion's vice president of marketing David Friedman, referring to multi-year programming contracts.

The move pits Connexion against companies such as U.S. satellite TV provider DirecTV Group Inc (DTV.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , which delivers multiple live TV channels to customers on U.S. airline JetBlue (JBLU.O: Quote, Profile, Research) . But Friedman said Connexion will be first to offer live TV on intercontinental flights.

Connexion expects to become profitable by 2008 but has not disclosed how many people use its wireless Internet service. About 20 percent of its customers have used the service more than once, according to Friedman.

The company is talking with airlines and manufacturers about delivering its services to the TV screens that are already built into many airplane seats in a bid to expand beyond laptop-toting business travelers, Friedman said.

It also hopes to support consumer use of mobile phones for phone calls and Internet access on planes. But it is not clear whether regulators around the world will lift long-standing bans that outlaw mobile phone use on planes.

Friedman said he hoped to be able to offer the service by the middle of 2006.

Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI: Quote, Profile, Research) will be first to offer the TV service in the next few months and Connexion hopes to expand TV to the rest of its airline partners over the next year or so. Its other customers include Germany's Lufthansa (LHAG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research) and Japan Airlines (9205.T: Quote, Profile, Research) .

Connexion has yet to link up with U.S. air operators, many of which have been plagued by financial troubles.

Etihad Airways selects Connexion by Boeing for In-Flight Internet Service
14 June 2005


Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has selected Connexion by Boeing as its provider of high-speed in-flight Internet and live global TV service. The agreement calls for both in-line and retrofit installation of the Connexion by Boeing service on the airline's fleet of 25 aircraft, including Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, and Airbus A330, A340 and A380 aircraft.

"We are very pleased to be the first airline in our region to offer the Connexion by Boeing service. Introducing such an innovative and sophisticated service showcases our commitment to ensure our guests have the most seamless and rewarding travel experience," said H.E. Dr. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Al Nahyan, chairman of the Civil Aviation Department in Abu Dhabi and chairman of Etihad Airways.

"Etihad Airways, one of the world's newest and fastest-growing airlines, has charted a clear path toward a position of leadership within the Gulf region and we are pleased that Connexion by Boeing has been selected to be a part of that strategy," said Connexion by Boeing President Laurette Koellner. "The opportunity to provide the added benefits of connectivity in flight is a unique way of helping Etihad address a frequently requested passenger amenity, while also helping to further differentiate their brand in the marketplace."

Etihad Airways is expected initially to offer the Connexion by Boeing service on routes between the Gulf region and Europe and North America. Once installations are complete, passengers will have additional choices for how to spend their time in-flight, including access to the Worldwide Web; e-mail; corporate intranets, including virtual private network capability; live TV and the ability to stay in touch with friends, family and the office. In mid 2006, Etihad Airways will become the first airline in the world to offer live television and Internet access at every seat delivered through its in-flight entertainment system.

Austrian Airlines signs with Connexion by Boeing for High-Speed In-flight Internet Service
16 June 2005


Austrian Airlines and Connexion by Boeing have signed an agreement for the installation of real-time, high-speed Internet service on the air carrier's long-haul fleet.

The agreement calls for the initial installation of the Connexion by Boeing service aboard seven of Austrian Airline's Boeing 777 (3) and Boeing 767 (4) aircraft, with an undisclosed number of additional options.

Installations will begin in early 2006 and, as they are completed, the Connexion by Boeing service will be introduced on select long-haul routes.

"Austrian Airlines is a progressive, passenger-focused airline that is looking toward the future and recognizes the benefits that high-speed connectivity can bring to its in-flight experience," said Connexion by Boeing President Laurette Koellner. "We are pleased that Connexion by Boeing has been selected as the Internet connectivity service provider of choice for another Star Alliance member airline and we look forward to the role we'll play in helping them achieve their marketing objectives."

"Austrian Airlines is proud to be among the first Europe-based airlines to provide its passengers with high-speed in-flight Internet service," said Austrian Airlines Chief Executive Officer Vagn Soerensen. "Our agreement with Connexion by Boeing ensures our passengers will have the latest technology at their fingertips, allowing them to connect to the world in- flight beginning in the very near future."

Connexion by Boeing service now Available to TeliaSonera Customers across Sweden, Finland and Norway
17 June 2005


All TeliaSonera customers across Denmark, Norway and Sweden should now able to access Connexion by Boeing's real-time, high-speed in- flight Internet service through their TeliaSonera accounts.

"TeliaSonera is a strategic provider of mobile services to passengers of Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS)," said Connexion by Boeing vice president of Marketing and Direct Sales David Friedman. "Having joined this partnership, Connexion by Boeing's service now becomes available to all TeliaSonera customers who want to stay connected to what's important while traveling."

TeliaSonera's customers, who already have Internet access in SAS' airport lounges, can now seamlessly connect to the entire Internet on board all SAS long-haul flights, simply by accessing the Connexion by Boeing homepage and entering their TeliaSonera HomeRun user name and password.

TeliaSonera customers can also use their existing information to connect to the Internet on all Connexion-enabled flights on Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, ANA and Singapore Airlines.

"The time spent onboard will now become more efficient and valuable for our customers since they will now be able to work online during flights," says Terje Christoffersen, Group Vice President of Marketing, Products & Services at TeliaSonera AB.

Boeing's Connexion service takes to the sea
Martyn Williams, IDG News Service

20/06/2005 09:05:58

The Boeing Co.'s Connexion by Boeing satellite-delivered Internet service picked up two new clients this week. Austrian Airlines Group said at the Paris Air Show that it will install the service on its long-haul fleet, while Teekay Shipping said it will install the service on some of its ships.

Austrian Airlines will install the in-flight broadband Internet service to three of its Boeing 777 aircraft and three of its Boeing 767s. Installation will begin in early 2006 and service will be launched as soon as each aircraft has been equipped. Austrian Airlines also signed options to install the service on an undisclosed number of additional aircraft, it said.

Austrian Airlines becomes the third European airline to sign up for the service, after Germany's Lufthansa and SAS's Scandinavian Airline Systems.

Connexion by Boeing uses satellites to provide high-speed data connections between aircraft and ground stations linked to the Internet. The connection speed is typically about 5M bps (megabits per second) downstream to the aircraft and 1M bps upstream to the Internet.

The deal with Teekay Shipping marks Boeing's first success in the maritime sector. Boeing started promoting the service to ship operators last year and the Teekay deal will see the broadband Internet service installed on 50 of the company's ships. Teekay operates a fleet of 140 tankers and transports more than 10 percent of the world's seaborne oil, it said in a statement.

The maritime service will deliver a 5M bps downstream connection to the ships and a 256k bps upstream service. It will support Internet access, e-mail, corporate intranet access and other data services.

Also last week, Scandinavian telecommunication company TeliaSonera said it has signed a roaming agreement with Connexion by Boeing that will allow its Internet customers to access Connexion's service using their existing accounts. Billing will be handled by TeliaSonera.

Boeing Internet service is sweet

By Bryan Corliss
Herald Columnist

NINETEEN THOUSAND FEET OVER EASTERN WASHINGTON - By the time this newspaper hits your doorstep, people flying out of Singapore will be watching television over the Boeing Co.'s aerial Internet service.

Singapore International Airlines is the launch customer for the new service, which allows passengers to choose between four TV options streamed over laptop computers linked to Boeing's Connexion service. The airline launches the service today.

I got a preview of it on Tuesday, during a Connexion demonstration flight from Boeing Field to Walla Walla Regional Airport. It works just like any other streaming video you might download on the Internet - only in my case I was downloading while flying over the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, peering through the smoke of a forest fire toward Mount Hood off to the west.

Online TV, Connexion engineering director Tim Vinopal said, "is one of our first big new features."

Boeing launched Connexion a little more than a year ago on flights operated by launch customer Lufthansa of Germany. Right now, about 70 planes have the service installed. The total will top 100 before year's end, Vinopal said.

This is the first of any number of service upgrades Boeing plans for Connexion, spokesman Terrance Scott said.

(Sorry, I got distracted for a second. A nearly full moon is rising over the Blue Mountains to the east. Stunning.)

Anyway, Boeing's plan is that "about every nine months we'll introduce new features and functionality," Scott said.

Singapore International will be the exclusive provider of TV service for the next couple of months, and then other airlines will add the service. Passengers on U.S. flights will be able to chose between CNBC, BBC America and channels EuroNews and EuroSports. On Tuesday, I can report, the last channel was spending a lot of time covering Lance Armstrong's performance in the Tour de France.

Connexion is far from the first service to offer television programming to airline passengers. JetBlue made its mark offering satellite TV service to each seat. Other low-fare carriers are following suit, including Song, a division of Delta Air Lines, which is using a system developed by Matsushita Aviation Systems, based in Bothell.

What sets Connexion apart, Vinopal said, is that it's an Internet-based service. You can e-mail friends and family on the ground while catching news headlines.

So what's next for Connexion? Perhaps an expansion of the television service, Scott said.

"Pay per view, or additional premium things, concerts, things of that nature."

Or maybe it will be cell phone service.

The technology exists now to provide phone service from the air to the ground. On Tuesday's demonstration flight, Connexion staffers showed off a private-network phone service that uses the Internet to carry voice messages. The test plane also has a pico cell, which is essentially the same technology ground-based cell companies use to route cell phone calls into their networks.

There are two big hurdles to overcome before Boeing offers cell service in the sky, Vinopal said. One's a regulatory issue - getting the various agencies around the world to approve cell phone use.

The other is a social issue - how to accommodate people who want to talk on their phones without annoying the bejesus out of the people crammed in next to them in coach.

Already in airports, Vinopal noted, "you hear the most amazing private conversations just a foot away."

Boeing's prototype private network service uses noise-canceling headphones and a headset microphone. Vinopal said the headphones eliminate the background noise on the plane so people don't feel like they have to shout to be heard.

Scott added that Connexion is working with airlines to develop rules for the use of cell phones.

For starters, the technology will only allow seven people to use their phones at once.

Airlines could further limit conversations to, for example, only the first and last hours of a flight. Outside those hours, cell users could send text messages but not make voice calls, Scott suggested.

Those kinds of limits "take a lot of the arguments off the page," Scott said.

Further down the line, Boeing could start offering Internet-based video games that allow passengers to compete with each other - or people on the ground, Scott said. That's the beauty of the Internet, he said. "People are into things we haven't begun to explore yet."

Oh, sorry. We just flew past Mount Rainier in the sunset. Stunning.

Nice but does anybody actually use them?

Internet TV in airplane seats next year

In-plane high speed internet expands offerings to live TV and on-demand movies
Tom Sanders in San Francisco, vnunet.com 27 Jul 2005


Airlines will be able to offer internet television to passengers in seat-back monitors by mid 2006, Connexion by Boeing said in a meeting with reporters.

The technology could provide on-demand movies and live television broadcasts in mid-air. It will be up to individual airlines to decide how much to charge for the service.

Internet television will debut with four channels on Singapore Airlines this year, but programmes will be available only on laptop computers equipped with Windows Media Player 9.

To get the signal to the seat-back TV monitors, the airline would have to hook-up the internet connection to the plane's entertainment system and transform the internet signal to a digital one.

Connexion by Boeing is best known for providing Wi-Fi internet access to aircraft passengers. The company has signed contracts with 12 carriers, including Lufthansa, SAS and Austrian Airlines, and 72 long haul aircraft carry the required equipment.

The technology uses several Wi-Fi access points inside the aircraft to create a wireless network, and the signal is transmitted back to earth via satellite. The service currently offers speeds of up to 4Mbps downstream and 1Mbps upstream for all users combined, but these will be increased as user adoption grows.

Increasing adoption by airlines is one of the service's major obstacles, according to Laurette Koellner, president of Connexion by Boeing. "Some airlines don't feel that they need to be the leader," she said.

Airlines have also been burnt in the past by the false promise of making money from passengers placing $10 per minute for satellite telephone calls.

"Airlines have been promised a lot in the past, and they want to make sure that this service is as advertised," said Koellner.

US carriers have been hesitant to invest into the technology as many of them are facing financial difficulties.

Passengers pay a fee of up to $29.95 for the Wi-Fi service, depending on the flight time. Connexion by Boeing has signed bulk contracts with 600 corporate clients to provide discounted service to their employees.

In addition to internet television, the firm recently started allowing airlines to deploy the connections for operational use. The carrier can send sensor data back to the ground about the airplane's performance to allow maintenance to spot problems earlier.

It also could allow the cabin crew to update or rebook flight schedules for passengers facing delays, or to keep track of the stock of duty free items.

Connexion by Boeing could also start offering mobile phone services by 2006, provided that use of mobile phones in the air clears regulatory hurdles.

Korean Air launches Connexion by Boeing

Flight International online news 11:00 GMT: Korean Air (KAL) has started offering Connexion by Boeing's high-speed Internet service on selected flights to the USA.

The service enables passengers to access the Internet and email via their own wireless local area network-compatible laptop computers.

The SkyTeam carrier says it activated the service last week on three of its weekly flights from its Seoul base to New York and Los Angeles.

KAL plans to charge between $7.95 and $29.95 for the Internet service but the service is currently being offered for free because the airline is awaiting approval from Korea's Ministry of Information and Communication to implement the charge.

After it secures approval KAL plans to gradually offer the service on more of its flights to North America and begin introducing it on flights to Europe.

Connexion By Boeing, Intel Efforts Boost Hotspots In The Sky
August 01, 2005

Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of The Boeing Company, and Intel® Corporation announced an agreement to enhance and promote high-speed, in-flight wireless Internet service. As part of the agreement, the companies have successfully completed compatibility testing with common Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology-based laptop configurations, making Connexion by BoeingSM the first in-flight Internet service to be verified through Intel's Wireless Verification Program.

Connexion by Boeing is the only high-speed wireless Internet, data and entertainment connectivity service for commercial airlines and their passengers as well as for operators of private and government executive jets.

Through the Wireless Verification Program, Intel works with wireless service providers to identify and minimize issues related to quality of service, site coverage and down-time that may negatively impact the end-user experience. To date, the program has verified 103 service providers that operate more than 70,000 hotspots worldwide.

"Intel and Connexion by Boeing have collaborated extensively to test the high-speed, in-flight Wi-Fi service, which provides a secure and reliable service for travelers who want new choices for how they spend their time in-flight," said Keith Kressin, director of marketing for Intel's Mobile Platforms Group. "With our shared focus on enhancing the end-user experience, Intel and Connexion by Boeing are opening up a whole new world of in-flight entertainment, communication and productivity."

"By verifying Connexion's service compatibility with Intel Centrino mobile technology and devices, we help ensure that air passengers have a consistent, high quality, in-flight Wi-Fi experience as they have come to expect and enjoy on the ground - whether they are surfing the World Wide Web, watching live global television or connecting to a corporate VPN," said David Friedman, vice president of marketing and direct sales, Connexion by Boeing.

Connexion by Boeing and Intel will also work with customer airlines to increase awareness, trial and adoption of in-flight Internet access through co-branding, promotions and educational efforts targeted at both business and leisure travelers. Connexion by Boeing service is available today on 70 planes and more than 100 daily routes worldwide on Lufthansa Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA, Singapore Airlines and China Airlines. In addition, Austrian Airlines, Korean Air, El Al, Asiana and Etihad will soon begin offering the high-speed service on their long-range aircraft.

Wireless Internet ready for take off

Aug 3, 2005: Intel and Connexion by Boeing (a business unit of The Boeing Company) have announced an agreement to enhance and promote a high-speed, in-flight wireless Internet service.

Connexion by Boeing is the only high-speed wireless Internet, data and entertainment connectivity service for commercial airlines and their passengers, as well as for operators of private and government executive jets.

As part of the agreement, the companies have successfully completed compatibility testing with common Intel Centrino mobile technology-based laptop configurations, making Connexion by Boeing the first in-flight Internet service to be verified through Intel’s Wireless Verification Program.

Through the Wireless Verification Program, Intel works with wireless service providers to identify and minimise issues related to quality of service, site coverage and down-time that may negatively impact the end-user experience. To date, the program has verified 103 service providers that operate more than 70,000 hotspots worldwide.

“Intel and Connexion by Boeing have collaborated extensively to test the high-speed, in-flight Wi-Fi service, which provides a secure and reliable service for travellers who want new choices for how they spend their time in-flight,” said Keith Kressin, director of marketing for Intel’s Mobile Platforms Group.

“By verifying Connexion’s service compatibility with Intel Centrino mobile technology and devices, we help ensure that air passengers have a consistent, high quality, in-flight Wi-Fi experience as they have come to expect and enjoy on the ground – whether they are surfing the World Wide Web, watching live global television or connecting to a corporate VPN,” said David Friedman, vice president of marketing and direct sales, Connexion by Boeing.

Connexion by Boeing and Intel will also work with customer airlines to increase awareness, trial and adoption of in-flight Internet access through co-branding, promotions and educational efforts targeted at both business and leisure travellers. Connexion by Boeing service is available today on 70 planes and more than 100 daily routes worldwide on Lufthansa Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA, Singapore Airlines and China Airlines. In addition, Austrian Airlines, Korean Air, El Al, Asiana and Etihad will soon begin offering the high-speed service on their long-range aircraft.

Intel, Boeing Enabling In-Flight WiFi Service
By Susan B. Shor
www.TechNewsWorld.com
Part of the ECT News Network
08/03/05 8:31 AM PT

http://www.linuxinsider.com/images/rw2206/intel-boeing-wifi.jpg

"We all use time on planes to work," Roberta Wiggins, research fellow, Yankee Group, said of the in-flight WiFi service. "It's a good consolidated piece of time to get some work done. People would rather work on the plane and have the weekend free to be with their families."


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Intel has joined forces with Connexion by Boeing (NYSE: BA) Latest News about Boeing to help ensure that travelers almost always have access to the Internet.

Connexion, a business Sprint has the infrastructure in place to meet all your business communications needs. From one company. Today. Click here and see how Sprint helps business. unit of the airplane maker, already has WiFi hotspots in place on 70 planes on Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA, Singapore Airlines and China Airlines. Austrian Airlines, Korean Air, El Al, Asiana and Etihad will soon add the service, the company said.
Testing Laptops

In the announcement yesterday, Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) Latest News about Intel said it has tested the compatibility of laptops using Intel Centrino mobile The Future of Broadcasting: Click here to find out more about Nokia’s developments with Mobile TV! technology and stamped the high-speed, in-flight service with its Wireless Verification Program seal of approval.

"We all use time on planes to work," Roberta Wiggins, research fellow, Yankee Group, told TechNewsWorld about the usefulness of the service. "It's a good consolidated piece of time to get some work done. People would rather work on the plane and have the weekend free to be with their families."

Wiggins said another benefit of wireless on airplanes is that it's quieter than phone calls.

"At least you won't be disturbing fellow passengers," she said.

About 90 percent of laptops use Centrino technology, according to Wiggins, so the service will be accessible to most travelers.
Flat Fees

Connexion charges a flat fee of US$29.95 per flight to use its service for most international routes and $19.95 for flights shorter than six hours. The company also offers a pay-per-minute plan that costs $9.95 for 60 minutes and 25 cents for each minute over an hour. Passengers can connect to the network through a Connexion account or use the roaming feature of their wireless providers.

Wiggins said she thought the in-flight WiFi would be a success and a valuable way for airlines to differentiate at a time when they are looking for new sources of revenue. "It's revenue and as with WiFi hotspots all over, it's a way to attract customers," she said.

Both business and leisure travelers can take advantage of the Internet Covad T1: Built for Business. Get 50% off the first three months on business-class Covad T1 TeleXtend. to notify hotels, transportation services and associates and friends about changes or delays in travel plans.

Intel and Connexion said they will also work together on marketing the service.

In-Flight Cell-Phone Use Closer To Technical Feasibility Aug. 10, 2005

Qualcomm and Connexion, the Boeing unit that sells a system for in-flight Internet connectivity, have successfully tested cell-phone standards on a Boeing 737, and others are working on similar initiatives.
By Tony Kontzer
InformationWeek



As the debate about whether to allow cell-phone use on airplanes rages on, technology providers continue to make progress on systems that will enable in-air conversations in the near future as airlines brace for the eventuality of in-flight phone use.

Last week, Qualcomm Inc. and Connexion, the Boeing Co. unit that sells a system for in-flight Internet connectivity, successfully tested cell-phone standards on a Boeing 737 by using a small in-cabin cellular base station called a "pico cell" to connect the signal to an air-to-ground satellite link. Another company called OnAir, which is a joint venture of Boeing rival Airbus S.A.S. and airline software provider Sita Inc., has been working on a similar system for in-flight cell-phone voice service and expects the first Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with the technology to be offering service in western Europe by mid-2006. A third service called AeroMobile, the result of a partnership between transportation communications systems provider Arinc Inc. and Norwegian telco Telenor ASA, is scheduled to launch later this year.

On the regulatory front, the Federal Communications Commission is considering proposals--and accepting public comment--on the in-flight use of cell phones, and it has proposed allowing calls during flights only if the signals sent by phones are minimized by the use of a pico cell, and if they don't interfere with on-ground cell-phone users. The FCC has not set a time frame for any action. Meanwhile, a Federal Aviation Administration official told Congress last month that the agency will not lift its 14-year-old ban on in-flight cell phone use unless carriers can prove that the devices don't disrupt on-board navigation and communication equipment. It's a daunting obstacle, as airlines will be forced to test every model of cell phone on each aircraft they fly.

Whether the flying public wants cell-phone use allowed on flights remains unclear. A poll conducted this spring on behalf of the National Consumer League and a flight attendants' association found that 69% of passengers wanted to keep cell-phone restrictions in place. Several months earlier, Telenor and Arinc surveyed 1,200 business travelers and found that about half of them would select airlines that allow in-flight cell-phone use over those that don't. But reader response to an InformationWeek blog posting in April indicated overwhelming opposition to lifting in-flight cell-phone restrictions.

The issue isn't causing airline CIOs to scurry, as on-board communications don't typically fall under their purview. But Bob Reeder, CIO of Alaska Airlines, believes the inherent delays in relaying signals among aircraft, satellites, and ground systems would conspire to keep in-air conversations to a minimum. "If you really need to make a call, it wouldn't bother you, but just to sit there and talk to Aunt Mary while you're crossing the United States, no one would want to do that," Reeder says.

He says the jury is still out as to whether Alaska would jump quickly to invest in the equipment required to make cell-phone service possible, but he believes that the pending arrival of in-flight broadband Internet connectivity, which would allow rapid communications via E-mail and instant messaging, will often alleviate the need for a phone conversation.

Boeing makes flying fun with live TV, Internet
Oct. 9, 2005



Gone are the days of watching recorded comedies and movies aboard an aeroplane.

Connexion One - Boeing company's in-flight entertainment test aircraft - on Friday made available live TV and the Internet for its passengers while flying at 24,000 feet over the Irish Sea, reports the online edition of New Scientist.

Wi-Fi transmitters peppered the ceiling and live TV and Internet signals were delivered through a one-metre-wide satellite dish on the top of the plane, it said.

Boeing director Mike Woodward said the effort was fuelled by passengers'' desire for live news, as opposed to recorded comedies and movies during flights.

Delivering live TV to planes is not easy. Once over the oceans and out of the reach of the land-focused satellite TV ranges - such as BSkyB's Astra satellite covering Britain - aircraft cannot receive live TV signals.

So Boeing leased capacity on satellites with maritime coverage. Then on Friday the company began broadcasting four live news channels - BBC World, CNBC (MSNBC over the US), Euronews and Eurosport News - which can be received by planes anywhere in the northern hemisphere.

While Internet access on aircraft is already becoming commonplace since 11 airlines - including Lufthansa, SAS and Singapore Airlines - are already using Boeing's high-speed satellite Internet connection technology, the next step is to link that technology to cellphones.

But before Boeing could ever launch such a service it needs approval from aviation regulators, such as the US Federal Aviation Administration and Britain's Civil Aviation Authority, to prove it is safe for the aircraft.

It also needs to confer with communications regulators like the US Federal Communications Commission, who want to make sure it does not overload ground-based base stations

Connexion by Boeing and UTStarcom make In-flight Mobile Phone Calls a Reality
17 October 2005


Connexion by Boeing recently concluded a week of demonstration flights in Europe that showed travelers how mobile telephony can be provided safely and conveniently for passengers in flight.

During flights aboard a Boeing 737-400 test and demonstration airplane, Connexion One, guests sampled not only the Connexion by Boeing high-speed, real-time Internet service, which now includes four channels of live TV, but also used roaming-enabled mobile phones to make and receive phone calls.

“Enabling people to make and receive phone calls during flight demonstrated the flexibility of a high-speed connectivity system like ours,” said Chris Petersen, program manager for voice and cellular service at Connexion by Boeing. “We allowed our guests to make calls to the ground while we flew over international waters, and almost everyone’s first call was to their boss. Both callers and call recipients were equally excited and impressed by the voice quality and the reliability of the connection.”

The ability to make Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) and code-division multiple-access (CDMA) calls over Connexion by Boeing’s system was made possible through Alameda, Calif.-based UTStarcom, a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services. UTStarcom supplied its MovingMedia 2000 all-IP mobile network infrastructure equipment to Connexion by Boeing and also provided technical support on the ground for call switching and completion.

”Our MovingMedia 2000 product is one of the only all-IP mobile infrastructure solutions on the market today, and is designed to provide significant operational cost savings to service providers as it does not require traditional TDM transmission backhaul,” said Jack Mar, president of the CDMA/GSM division at UTStarcom, Inc. “UTStarcom’s MovingMedia 2000 network solution is compact, uses IP transport technology and is capable of working over satellite transmission medium, making it an ideal solution to offer cellular service for passengers on commercial airlines.”

Connexion by Boeing intends to enable mobile phone devices onboard commercial airplanes utilizing the existing broadband satellite link and make this available to its airline customers as early as 2006. “Enabling mobile connectivity is a natural service evolution for our system, which currently allows passengers on more than 120 flights a day to use WiFi-enabled laptops to connect to what is important to them,” said David Friedman, Connexion by Boeing vice president of marketing and direct sales. “We plan to make it available to our airline customers should they want it, once discussions between regulatory authorities and airline customers worldwide have been concluded, and the industry has come to an agreement on how to implement it in practice.”

Connexion by Boeing and UTStarcom Make In-Flight Mobile Phone Calls a Reality

Press Release posted by Alex Lawrence-Richards on Monday October 17, 2005.
Note: Sponsored advertising links, if any, are in green.

LONDON, Oct. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), recently concluded a week of demonstration flights in Europe that showed travelers how mobile telephony in flight can be provided safely and conveniently for passengers in flight.

During flights aboard a Boeing 737-400 test and demonstration airplane, Connexion One, guests sampled not only the Connexion by Boeing(SM) high-speed, real-time Internet service, which now includes four channels of live TV, but also used roaming-enabled mobile phones to make and receive phone calls.

"Enabling people to make and receive phone calls during flight demonstrated the flexibility of a high-speed connectivity system like ours," said Chris Petersen, program manager for voice and cellular service at Connexion by Boeing. "We allowed our guests to make calls to the ground while we flew over international waters, and almost everyone's first call was to their boss. Both callers and call recipients were equally excited and impressed by the voice quality and the reliability of the connection."

The ability to make Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) and code-division multiple-access (CDMA) calls over Connexion by Boeing's system was made possible through Alameda, Calif.-based UTStarcom, Inc. (NASDAQ:UTSI), a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services. UTStarcom supplied its MovingMedia 2000 all-IP mobile network infrastructure equipment to Connexion by Boeing and also provided technical support on the ground for call switching and completion.

"Our MovingMedia 2000 product is the only all-IP mobile infrastructure solution on the market today, and is designed to provide significant operational cost savings to service providers as it does not require traditional TDM transmission backhaul," said Jack Mar, president of the CDMA/GSM division at UTStarcom, Inc. "UTStarcom's MovingMedia 2000 network solution is compact, uses IP transport technology and is capable of working over satellite transmission medium, making it an ideal solution to offer cellular service for passengers on commercial airlines."

Connexion by Boeing intends to enable mobile phone devices onboard commercial airplanes utilizing the existing broadband satellite link and make this available to its airline customers as early as 2006. "Enabling mobile connectivity is a natural service evolution for our system, which currently allows passengers on more than 120 flights a day to use WiFi-enabled laptops to connect to what is important to them," said David Friedman, Connexion by Boeing vice president of marketing and direct sales. "We plan to make it available to our airline customers should they want it, once discussions between regulatory authorities and airline customers worldwide have been concluded, and the industry has come to an agreement on how to implement it in practice."

About Connexion by Boeing
Connexion by Boeing is, for the second year running, the recipient of the World Travel Award for World's Leading High-Speed In-flight Internet Services Provider. IDC wireless services analysts recently named Connexion by Boeing as one of the wireless companies to watch in 2005, and it is also the recipient of Network Magazine's Innovation Awards 2005 honor for "Product Breakthrough." Through a broadband connection to an equipped airplane, high-speed Internet, data and entertainment connectivity is delivered directly to travelers in flight. The Connexion by Boeing service is available today on flights offered by Lufthansa, SAS, Japan Airlines, ANA, Singapore Airlines, China Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and El Al Israel Airlines. In addition, Etihad Airways and Austrian Airlines have announced their intent to install the Connexion by Boeing system on their long-range airplanes. Connexion by Boeing also offers a high-speed connectivity solution for the business aviation market and has announced Teekay Shipping as its launch customer for the maritime market. For more information, please visit www.connexionbyboeing.com.

Boeing unit to introduce in-flight Internet telecasts
The Associated Press

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2006
SEATTLE Airline passengers will soon be able to watch live television on their laptops through Connexion, Boeing's in-flight Internet service.

As of Jan. 23, passengers who buy blocks of Internet access on the nine airlines that offer Connexion's service will be able to watch programs broadcast on BBC World, CNBC, Eurosportsnews and either EuroNews or MSNBC.

Under new pricing announced on Wednesday, access to Connexion's high-speed Internet service will cost $26.95 for up to 24 hours starting on Jan. 31. Connexion now charges $29.95 for six hours of Internet access or more. Hourly pricing is also available. The TV service will not cost passengers extra.

The airlines that carry Connexion's service are Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, China Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana and El Al.

Other airlines like JetBlue and Frontier already offer TV programming on screens on the backs of seats.


SEATTLE Airline passengers will soon be able to watch live television on their laptops through Connexion, Boeing's in-flight Internet service.

As of Jan. 23, passengers who buy blocks of Internet access on the nine airlines that offer Connexion's service will be able to watch programs broadcast on BBC World, CNBC, Eurosportsnews and either EuroNews or MSNBC.

Under new pricing announced on Wednesday, access to Connexion's high-speed Internet service will cost $26.95 for up to 24 hours starting on Jan. 31. Connexion now charges $29.95 for six hours of Internet access or more. Hourly pricing is also available. The TV service will not cost passengers extra.

The airlines that carry Connexion's service are Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System, Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines, All Nippon Airways, China Airlines, Korean Air, Asiana and El Al.

Other airlines like JetBlue and Frontier already offer TV programming on screens on the backs of seats.

I read in another forum that you can tell a Connexion-equipped plane from a non-equipped one by a slight bump on the head of the aircraft or something. Does anyone know what this is about? Any pictures to show?

A345

I read in another forum that you can tell a Connexion-equipped plane from a non-equipped one by a slight bump on the head of the aircraft or something. Does anyone know what this is about? Any pictures to show?

A345

you kidding me!

you kidding me!
Here's the link to the thread with mention of the double hump, indicating Connexion-equipped aircraft: Connexion up and running (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=410288&page=4&pp=15) (Refer to the third post on this page). Incidentally, I've also found additional resources on this topic. For those interested, here are pictures of the double-hump: Connexion Update (http://www.airfax.com/airfax/features/viewstory.asp?filepath=sep2002%5Cconnexion.htm)

A345