Inflight internet update: Southwest blocks Skype, Continental (hearts) Blackberry
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First it was Boeing’s failed Connexion service (R.I.P.). But in recent months, inflight internet is making a comeback. There was JetBlue’s announcement of a Yahoo/Blackberry inflight internet service. Then last week, Southwest announced that they would be rolling out wi-fi internet access onboard a limited number of their planes in coming months. Then, this week, Continental followed suit with a JetBlue style TV and limited internet service. The similarity to JetBlue’s product isn’t coincidental: They’re buying the service from a JetBlue subsidiary.
The Southwest internet announcement was more interesting, because it was real internet, and not limited to Yahoo or Blackberry. Still, I had some questions. Today, I’ve got some answers from the heart of Southwest HQ.
The biggest deal: No voice. Not even Voice-over-IP. Just try and use your Skype connection. I dare you. Double-dog dare you. Southwest has got you blocked, sucka.
Q: Will passengers know in advance which routes will have the wi-fi capability?
A: Maybe. Noncommittal. “Nothing is concrete yet.”Q: Will voice features, e.g., the portal for Skype, be turned on, or off?
A: OFF. Southwest will be blocking VoIP. “We’ll have more than enough bandwidth to support e-mail and IM…great SILENT communication options!”Q: Any plans to consider cellphone capability?
A: Not at this time. (Whew!)Q: Any plans to bundle wi-fi with the “business” fares now offered?
A: No word yet on the pricing. TBA.
Related:
- JetBlue starts testing inflight internet next week
- Feed the Internet addiction: American Airlines will roll out high-speed inflight wi-fi next year
- It’s official: Boeing pulling the plug on its inflight internet service, Connexion
- “No Cellphones” light to be added to aircraft interiors
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February 1st, 2008 at 4:54 am |
Maybe the skies be the last fortress of not being bothered by a big mouth on a phone.
I know some planes have phones fitted but not once have I seen anyone use em, except in Die Hard 2 but that was a movie of course!
February 1st, 2008 at 4:56 am |
May the skies be the last place you’ll never be bothered by a big mouth on a phone!
I know some planes have phones fitted but not once have I seen anyone use them, except in Die Hard 2 but that was a movie!
February 1st, 2008 at 6:58 pm |
Woohoo no voice. I’m dreading the roll-out by several airlines of in-flight cell phones (let’s hope they keep prices ridiculously high to at least slow down the progression to airborne busses).
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:56 pm |
Sooo glad to know voice will be blocked. As a very frequent traveller, I hate it bad enough that most flights barely hit the concrete before 3-4 people are yapping on their phones. And we know people can’t do it quietly, so bravo, Southwest.
But truth be told, I wish everyone would get over “needing” the Internet during a flight at all. The air is one of the few places I feel justified in, at times, doing NOTHING.
Cheers. Randall Shirley, www.randallshirley.com.