Singapore Airlines reseller launches in-flight calls and Internet
- 05 October, 2010 17:16
- Comments 2
Singapore Airlines is working with airline tech reseller, OnAir, to launch phone calls, messaging and in-flight wireless Internet services from the first half of 2011.
According to a statement released by the airline, its Airbus A380, Airbus A340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft flying from Australia and the rest of the world will be connected via satellites to phone services and wireless networks.
GSM-enabled phones and smartphone devices like Blackberries will be able to send and receive calls, text messages and emails during flights. While calls will be billed as a global roaming service, Internet packages will need to be bought from the airline.
OnAir is a jointly-owned company split between Airbus and in-flight IT provider, SITA. Its CEO, Ian Dawkins, claimed the move would help make in-flight services mainstream.
“It sends a strong signal to the industry that inflight passenger communications has come of age – and is a must-have for airlines looking to remain competitive in the future,” he said in a statement.
Singapore Airlines is claiming to be the first Asian airline to offer a complete suite of in-flight connectivity services. Australian carrier, Qantas, provides GPRS-based Internet for smartphones using small base stations on domestic flights. V Australia is planning to offer SMS and Internet services through rival tech firm, AeroMobile.
Prices for the Singapore Airlines services have not been released.
Nominations for the 2012 ARN IT Industry Awards open on Tuesday, June 12.
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Comments
Barry
That's it, the last thing I need on a flight is to pay significant amounts of money to listen to other peoples conversations. I'll never fly Singapore again. Can no one last a couple of hours without using this technolgy, will anything of earth shattering significance happen while they are in the air. Just chill out.
Russell
Some have more importance in life than you Barry and need to be contactable or have access to some form of communications rather than sitting comatose in an airline seat for hours on end. Some call it productivity and being a small business operator I call it survival. Obviously laid back employees can look to chill out for hours on long haul flights but some of us cannot. It's your loss in not flying SQ again as they are a good airline with a great service and the A380 is superb to fly in even economy class. Put on your headsets and chill out will some nice music from Krisworld, then you don't have to listen to the conversation of others.
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