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In-Flight Connectivity

Skies No Longer “Internet Holiday,” Says Wi-Fi Addicted ‘Tickled’ Director

    Well, folks. Yes, the world is still a surreal political landscape and Spain is having its own elections, but I promised I’d get to the bottom of Burger and I have.

    I corresponded with David Farrier, the New Zealand-based investigative journalist and director the documentary film, ‘Tickled’, which exposes the dark side of internet male tickling videos. (I cannot explain the existence of these. You’ll have to see the documentary.)

    In a Hyperconnected World BYOD is “Major Game Changer,” Says SITAOnAir

    The digital trends of today’s travellers will make BYOD entertainment a “major game changer” says Inflight Connectivity and Entertainment supplier, SITA OnAir.

    We’ve been closely watching the rise of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) in-flight entertainment (IFE) trend as new services and solutions arise which let airlines offer entertainment content on flights where there previously was none, or as supplementary entertainment for overhead screens, even for embedded seat back screens for an “at-home” multi-screening experience.

    In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity Market Will Be Worth $9.82 Billion by 2024, Report

    In a recently released report, San Francisco-based Grand View Research, Inc. projects the global In-Flight Entertainment And Connectivity (IFEC) market will reach USD 9.82 billion by 2024.

    “The emergence of BYOD and development of novel wireless solutions are expected to boost market growth,” the research group states. “The increasing commercial aviation & fleet expansion have further bolstered industry growth. Growing availability of HD content across dynamic platforms are expected to increase IFEC systems’ demand.”

    Gogo 2Ku Wi-Fi Goes Live On Aeromexico Flights

      Gogo’s high-speed 2Ku connectivity is now live on select Aeromexico Boeing and Embraer aircraft, the company has announced.

      The first aircraft to fly with Gogo’s 2Ku technology is an Aeromexico Boeing 737-800 aircraft serving destinations in the Americas. The airline will offer the Gogo 2Ku service free of charge during a limited introductory period.

      IAG Rocks EU, Goes for Gogo’s 2Ku

      Gogo has announced a deal with International Airlines Group (IAG) to install Gogo’s 2Ku technology on 118 British Airways, four Aer Lingus Boeing 757, and up to 15 Iberia long-haul aircraft.

      As Wi-Fi Space Race Intensifies, Gogo Takes Bold Leap to Global Coverage

      Gogo has announced a new Major Capacity Agreement with satellite company Intelsat on the Intelsat Globalised Network, becoming the anchor tenant for the world’s first GEO/LEO Shared Network, Intelsat/OneWeb.

      “Gogo’s open strategy gives us the ability to look to the entire satellite market for innovation, and Intelsat’s EpicNG satellites combined with OneWeb’s LEO constellation offers numerous advantages for aviation,” said Gogo’s president and CEO, Michael Small.

      New Modem Will Be Big Boost to Wi-Fi Performance, Gogo States

      Gogo says users should expect “significantly” better W-Fi connections as a result of the upgrade to the satellite modem used in its Next Generation 2Ku and Ku satellite technologies.

      The new modem “will significantly increase throughput from the satellite to end users” Gogo states, promising speeds of up to 400 Mbps to an aircraft. The modem will also support streaming of films and television programming viewed on the internet.

      Thales Will Build Inmarsat’s EU High-Speed Inflight Wi-Fi Infrastructure

        Thales will develop and build a Complementary Ground Component (CGC) terminal for Inmarsat’s new European Aviation Network (EAN) high-speed inflight connectivity (IFC) solution.

        Inmarsat first announced its interest in building a hybrid network in Europe which would capitalise on both satellite and cellular tower infrastructure to make high-speed in-flight Wi-Fi connections more readily available in the European skies back in 2014, announcing a projected launch date for the end of 2016.

        Singapore Airlines A350XWB Will Feature Thales Avant IFE and High-Speed Wi-Fi

        Thales’ AVANT Android based system offers a flexible architecture which allows Singapore Airlines to constantly introduce and easily integrate the latest apps their customers demand.

        The fleet will be equipped with Thales latest AVANT monitors, which are the most lightweight ever deployed in the market, and feature full high-definition video and an integrated Avii, Thales’ most modern Android smartphone-like touch controller, in premium cabins. Navigating menus with Avii is intuitive and the device can act as a second screen so passengers can, for example, watch a film on the big screen while playing one of the game apps on the handset or monitoring the flight map.

        Battle of Satellite Providers Promises Faster, Better Wi-Fi in Europe’s Skies..Soon

        For now, most of the skies over Europe are quite places to work, read a book, watch a film on our personal electronic devices, or simply delight in the view through the window–and what a view it is!

        But technology is advancing, and all of that will change soon. Satellite providers are battling to cover the European skies and the battle is heating up.

        For now, most of the skies over Europe are quite places to work, read a book, watch a film on our personal electronic devices, or simply delight in the view through the window–and what a view it is!

        But technology is advancing, and all of that will change soon. Satellite providers are battling to cover the European skies and the battle is heating up.

        ANA and Panasonic Partner to Offer Wi-Fi and Live TV Inflight

          Panasonic Avionics and All Nippon Airways CO., LTD(ANA) have announced a new partnership to launch ANA SKY Live TV and broadband Internet Wi-Fi services on the airline’s domestic routes across Japan.

          The new ANA Sky Live TV offers three channels of Japanese news, sports and popular programming from JSAT Corporation’s Sky PerfecT! platform.

          Passengers will enjoy general sports programming with Nettle G+, follow news updates from Nippon TV News 24, and watch live football programming on Sukasaka!.

          ANA will also offer passengers high-speed onboard Wi-Fi for email, to browse the Internet, or to stay in touch with family, friends, and social media networks.  The new Wi-Fi service will also stream music, television shows, and other content direct to passengers’ devices.

          Read More »ANA and Panasonic Partner to Offer Wi-Fi and Live TV Inflight

          Internet Killed the Safety Video Star..or Did It?

          Years from now, anthropologists will debate the exact moment that the genre of the entertainment safety video crossed over from the sublime to the ridiculous. To save them time, I’m positing that the meme finally killed it off, and it was the incredible success of Delta’s Internetest Safety Video on the Internet that done it in.

          How can over 9 Million views on YouTube be a bad thing, you ask? 

          UPDATE Delta has taken its most popular safety video of all time private. A story in itself, which I am investigating with the airline. However, the internet never forgets so for the purpose of posterity, here is the original.

          Read More »Internet Killed the Safety Video Star..or Did It?

          Finnair Mobile Site, Screen Snap, FCMedia

          Finnair Knows Time is Money, New Apple Watch App Comes with a Bonus

          Finnair has now released an Apple Watch app. To celebrate, it’s giving customers a discount on checked baggage purchased through its mobile app.

          The bookings screen on Finnair app links out to the airline’s mobile-friendly site.
          Finnair inspires app users to travel with beautiful images of top destinations.
          Finnair inspires app users to travel with beautiful images of top destinations.
          Finnair inspires app users to travel with beautiful images of top destinations.
          Finnair inspires app users to travel with beautiful images of top destinations.
          Finnair inspires app users to travel with beautiful images of top destinations.
          Finnair inspires app users to travel with beautiful images of top destinations.
          Finnair inspires app users to travel with beautiful images of top destinations.
          The Finnair Apple Watch app is simple, and gives useful travel information
          The Finnair App’s UX Design is clean and intuitive.
          The Finnair App’s UX Design is clean and intuitive.
          The Finnair App’s UX Design is clean and intuitive.
          The Finnair Apple Watch app is simple, and gives useful travel information
          The Finnair Apple Watch app is simple, and gives useful travel information

          The airline emphasises that it’s proud to be punctual, and has released the new Apple Watch app to help passengers keep good time too. With watch notifications, you’ll have fewer excuses to arrive late at your gate–no matter how much fun you’re having at the airport shops.

          Read More »Finnair Knows Time is Money, New Apple Watch App Comes with a Bonus

          Turkish Airlines Debuts World’s First Live Broadcasted Flight

            Turkish Airlines proves its Social Media genius again by becoming not only the first airline but the first brand to hold a live Periscope broadcast. It featured cabin crew adventures in flight and on the ground and earned the airline 5,118 new followers and 292,779 total likes. Not a bad way to take-off on the medium.

            Get Ready for Truly Global High-Speed In-Flight Wi-Fi

              The test proved that the GX Aviation network can support multiple file transfers and video streaming–giving passengers the same Wi-Fi experience at 40,000 feet as they enjoy on the ground.

              The success of this test brings us one step closer to enjoying next generation truly global high-speed in-flight connectivity, say the two companies.