Anyone use the new onboard e-mail system on CO
 

Read an article about Tenzing saying they are now available on all CO flights that have IFE.

http://www.webmailbytenzing.com/

I used this service with JetConnect on a United flight a few weeks ago. Nothing too impressive, really - it's pretty clunky to set up, transfer rates are painfully slow and unless your email is unbelieveably time critical or you can expense the service it's pretty pricey (hourly or per-flight segment charge). One nice feature is that it will allow you to "preview" your inbox at no charge (other than the standard JetConnect fees) by displaying the subject lines from your inbox so you can determine if the connection fees are worth it.

JetConnect overall, IMHO, underdelivers. I understand the data transmission limits of the Airfone system, but other than instant messaging the content on JetConnect is pretty stale and lacking. I've never seen any other passenger use the service, and in all of my travels have truthfully only seen an Airfone used for a voice call a handfull of times.

I used the email app to connect to my OWA for work once BOS-IAH. I thought it was fine. It let me continue my normal email and IM communication with colleagues through the end of the business day. I didn't want to pay to read any big attachments, but that's the kind of stuff that I didn't need to respond to immediately anyway.

I found it helpful and worth the $10 for email. The $6 for IM is almost always worth it during business hours.

I don't use it that much because I usuall don't travel during normal business hours.

Somewhat related, I love the Verizon wireless voice plan they have -- $0.69/minute (or $10/mo + $0.10/min), although I've found that on about every fifth flight it doesn't work for some reason.

Not dirt cheap, but reasonable for making a few quick calls and being able to be reached while at 35K ft for 5 hours on a transcon.

I've had good experience with the Jetconnect on CO. The price for the IM is worth it to keep in touch on a 5 hour transcon.

The email is a bit clunky, refreshing every 5 minutes, but if you need the email capability it works.

There is also an option to send text messages to cell phones and receive them, but I have never had that functionality work properly.

Incoming!!
 

Don't forget the ability to receive incoming calls from your mobile through Verizon. That rocks! And it works!

I've used it a few times and was moderately impressed.. IM works great. Webmail is alright, but it gets the job done. Only problem I had is I was using it to connect to an IMAP account. Even after the flight was over when I would log into my account and noticed that messages were shown as being "read" even though they were new messages to me.. I found out that the webmail client was still connecting and getting the emails from my account.. so I changed the password and it stopped.. that was kinda weird though I thought.. and something CO/Verizon should address.. I don't want my emails floating around out there..

-Dennis