Between the Lines

Larry Dignan, Andrew Nusca and Rachel King

Delta rolls out Wi-Fi across U.S. fleet

By | August 5, 2008, 7:36am PDT

In the not too distant future your corporate VPN will follow you on any plane you fly.

Delta Air Lines said Tuesday
that it is rolling out Aircell’s broadband Wi-Fi access across its 330 planes in the U.S. and rest assured other carriers will follow suit. After all, if airlines are charging you for luggage, pillows, bad food and in some cases even water inflight-Internet access has the potential to be a real profit center.

As noted before I’m a bit conflicted by this development since the plane was the last refuge from the Internet. Aircell’s system–dubbed Gogo–has gotten good reviews and it’s just a matter of time until other carriers offer it. Aircell will run you $9.95 on flights three hours or less and $12.95 on longer flights.

Delta said it will roll out the Internet access beginning in the fall and complete the installation by the summer of 2009.

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Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic.

Disclosure

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan has nothing to disclose. He doesn’t hold investments in the technology companies he covers.

Biography

Larry Dignan

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic. He was most recently Executive Editor of News and Blogs at ZDNet. Prior to that he was executive news editor at eWeek and news editor at Baseline. He also served as the East Coast news editor and finance editor at CNET News.com. Larry has covered the technology and financial services industry since 1995, publishing articles in WallStreetWeek.com, Inter@ctive Week, The New York Times, and Financial Planning magazine. He's a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and the University of Delaware.

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Talkback Most Recent of 7 Talkback(s)

  • TOO EXPENSIVE!
    Honestly, does ANYONE *really* NEED Internet Access *THAT* badly to pay such *STEEP* prices?

    I don't think so. I can live without access for a day!

    If your boss wants to foot the bill... Fine! It's his dime...

    But, there ain't NO WAY it's coming out of *my* pocket!

    It should be FREE!

    Especially after fully booking your flight and packing you in like sardines!

    Mike Sr.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    madrucke@...
    6th Aug 2008
  • I agree.
    Much too expensive. Besides, if my connection on the plane times out and drops something important I'm working on, do I get a refund?
    ZDNet Gravatar
    rickroberts_mcse@...
    6th Aug 2008
  • RE: Delta rolls out Wi-Fi across U.S. fleet
    For business travelers this is a great option for emails that can't wait to be sent. Even at $9.95.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    kbaggett
    6th Aug 2008
  • RE: Delta rolls out Wi-Fi across U.S. fleet
    I remember Boeing once had its wireless internet service (Connexion) and a few carriers had it awhile before all of them dropped their service due to low demand. I don't know if it will take off this time...
    It's cool to use the internet in the plane, especially on the long haul. But seriously, how many people really want to be online during the flight other than those who need to use the net for some urgent business needs? In-flight entertainment system is just good enough I think.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    bukim@...
    6th Aug 2008
  • RE: Delta rolls out Wi-Fi across U.S. fleet
    Does the access include internet phone services like Yahoo Messenger Voice?
    ZDNet Gravatar
    york40
    6th Aug 2008
  • RE: Delta rolls out Wi-Fi across U.S. fleet
    Could be a back door to in-flight phone calls if it supports Yahoo voice messenger and similar services.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    york40
    6th Aug 2008
  • RE: Delta rolls out Wi-Fi across U.S. fleet
    That superb online online site webpage incorporates quite a lot of reliable suggestions. You will find right here all nfl jersey you will wish to know.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    tomlin21-24319035676893835085146735905770
    11th Oct

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