Wi-Fi enabled planes?
Jul 2, 2008 | 9:44 pm
#1
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Wi-Fi enabled planes?
I read on SeatGuru that B6 is offering free beta wi-fi service on select flights. Any idea which ones they are?
I looked in this forum for an answer, but I haven't found one. If I missed it, sorry.
I looked in this forum for an answer, but I haven't found one. If I missed it, sorry.
Jul 3, 2008 | 6:19 am
#2
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There is currently only one plane outfitted, "Beta Blue." It does not operate on any specific route so you've got roughly a 1:100 chance of having it operate your flight. A couple weeks ago at the DO we were told that the number of planes offering the service would likely expand significantly and that the expansion would happen "soon" but nothing more concrete was given.
Also, it is not a full WiFi service comparable to what AA is offering on their 767 service. The LiveTV-based service is limited right now mostly to email from major providers while AA's AirCell-based service provides access to a much broader collection of the Internet (but still not everything). More info here and here if you're interested.
Also, it is not a full WiFi service comparable to what AA is offering on their 767 service. The LiveTV-based service is limited right now mostly to email from major providers while AA's AirCell-based service provides access to a much broader collection of the Internet (but still not everything). More info here and here if you're interested.
Jul 3, 2008 | 2:10 pm
#3
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FYI - the tail # for BetaBlue is N651JB. sbm12 is correct in that it doesn't operate on any specific routes, but you'll most likely find her working various transcons.
Jul 20, 2008 | 12:05 pm
#4
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Any word on the adding of more planes?
On a side note, not that I would know it 1st hand or anything but the AT&T 3G network does work at 30,000' for most of the east coast. Not well and not fast but it does function.
-Dave
On a side note, not that I would know it 1st hand or anything but the AT&T 3G network does work at 30,000' for most of the east coast. Not well and not fast but it does function.
-Dave
Jul 20, 2008 | 12:11 pm
#5
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At the T5 tour/DO they said that they expected the service to grow in the near future. I don't know if that was just the announcement of the additional email providers or if it related to adding it to more planes. Now that they own the network towers I'd think that they should be able to more aggressively push the deployment. Then again, they might be saving up the appropriate hardware for the imminent outfitting of the Continental domestic fleet. Those planes are supposed to start appearing in service in January so I'd imagine that the ramp-up for the deployment will happen in the next couple months.