GETTING CONNECTED IN FLIGHT

By Laura Quarantiello
Expert Author
Article Date: 2003-07-11

There's no reason to be out of touch in the air. Just ask United Airlines Passengers, who now have the ability to plug in their laptops at 35,000 feet and enjoy instant messages, online games and up-to-the-minute news reports. United has inaugurated "JetConnect," Verizon Airfone's new in-flight data service, on many of its flights. Up to 46 passengers can simultaneously connect their laptops to the JetConnect service through onboard Verizon Airfone handsets.

The first phase of the JetConnect service provides instant messaging between aircraft and ground, as well as passenger-to-passenger, and short messaging (brief, one-way messages), news, weather, sports scores, stock quotes, interactive games and entertainment. High speed email and file downloading is expected to be added soon. United passengers will pay $15.98 per flight for access, with extra charges being applied for large downloads.

Airline officials say that the new high-tech offerings are just another way to draw business customers to the airline. Lost productivity while stuck on a business flight will become a thing of the past. The ability to read and send email, as well as transfer files, will change the way business travelers use their time in the air.

JetConnect is currently provided within the U>SD. On more than 300 Continental Airlines narrow-body aircraft and many United Airlines flights.

About the Author:
Laura Quarantiello is the author of "Cyber Crime – How to Protect Yourself From Computer Criminals" More information at http://www.tiare.com/cyber.htm