Search
  • Videos
  • Windows 10
  • 5G
  • Best VPNs
  • Cloud
  • Security
  • AI
  • more
    • TR Premium
    • Working from Home
    • Innovation
    • Best Web Hosting
    • ZDNet Recommends
    • Tonya Hall Show
    • Executive Guides
    • ZDNet Academy
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
  • Newsletters
  • All Writers
    • Preferences
    • Community
    • Newsletters
    • Log Out
  • Menu
    • Videos
    • Windows 10
    • 5G
    • Best VPNs
    • Cloud
    • Security
    • AI
    • TR Premium
    • Working from Home
    • Innovation
    • Best Web Hosting
    • ZDNet Recommends
    • Tonya Hall Show
    • Executive Guides
    • ZDNet Academy
    • See All Topics
    • White Papers
    • Downloads
    • Reviews
    • Galleries
    • Videos
    • TechRepublic Forums
      • Preferences
      • Community
      • Newsletters
      • Log Out
  • us
    • Asia
    • Australia
    • Europe
    • India
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    • ZDNet around the globe:
    • ZDNet France
    • ZDNet Germany
    • ZDNet Korea
    • ZDNet Japan

All aboard Gogo's private jet to test new text, talk service (photos)

4 of 13 NEXT PREV
  • All aboard Gogo One, the company's private plane

    All aboard Gogo One, the company's private plane

    ZDNet headed to Newark International Airport to check out Gogo's latest service: talking and texting in the skies, as though you were on the ground. We boarded Gogo's private plane to test the service out at 30,000 feet.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Aircraft air-to-ground antenna

    Aircraft air-to-ground antenna

    Under the nose of the plane you can see two antennas. These are to communicate with ground-based antennas that broadcast signal across America. Gogo has more than 200 antennas across the country.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Gogo One, the company's test plane

    Gogo One, the company's test plane

    We boarded the flight early in the morning, armed with our smartphones, ready to test out the service, which is pegged for an early 2014 launch. Texting and talking requires Wi-Fi access, so you can't keep a conversation going gate-to-gate, so even with recent changes to the aviation rules. You still have to switch your device to "airplane mode" until you're at 10,000 feet.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Inside the main cabin

    Inside the main cabin

    The plane itself was plush but small. But there was no need to wait in line at the TSA checkpoint. Because it's a private flight, there was no security. We even got to poke our heads into the cockpit -- although, not while they were flying.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Takeoff from Newark International Airport

    Takeoff from Newark International Airport

    The flight lasted about an hour, and soared as high as 30,000 feet to test the new service. At that altitude, we're in the same territory as commercial trans-America and trans-Atlantic flights.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • No Wi-Fi until we're at 10,000 feet

    No Wi-Fi until we're at 10,000 feet

    Because of airline rules, we weren't able to get access to Wi-Fi until 10,000 feet. Once the Gogo wireless networks are switched on, you can connect your Android device or iPhone to the simulated cellular service, enabling texting and talking between devices in the air as well as on the ground.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Gogo engineer testing Wi-Fi service

    Gogo engineer testing Wi-Fi service

    Here we have Gogo engineer Ron Barczak testing the network once we reach altitude at which the wireless network can be switched on. In his testing, he's able to tweak the settings to ensure the best connectivity during the flight.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Hitting 10,000 feet and climbing

    Hitting 10,000 feet and climbing

    Here you can see New Jersey's industrial landscape as we continued to climb to cruising altitude.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Testing out the texting service

    Testing out the texting service

    Although the app itself is still in "beta" development, its functionality is simple. Voice calls were tricky, but are much at the mercy of the plane's Wi-Fi network. Text messages were sent and received instantly.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • And it works!

    And it works!

    By utilizing Gogo's air-to-ground connectivity, calls and texts back on Earth are now routed through the aircraft's wireless network rather than in-flight cell towers, otherwise known as "picocells."

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Gogo engineer's testing server station

    Gogo engineer's testing server station

    Barczak showed us around the testing station, where numerous boxes and servers are stacked up. These racks enable the air-to-ground connectivity. The in-flight technology company is currently experimenting with various boxes of different designs.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Racks of servers as part of Gogo's test plane

    Racks of servers as part of Gogo's test plane

    Up close, you can see these servers take up only a little space in the grand scheme of things. On commercial airlines, there are 6 access points throughout the plane.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

  • Commercial aircraft will just have one of these boxes...

    Commercial aircraft will just have one of these boxes...

    But the newer, latest-generation boxes are a little bigger than a home router. The actual installation is an "overnight" process, according to Barczak, and takes up very little space.

    Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

    Photo by: Zack Whittaker/CBS Interactive

    Caption by: Zack Whittaker

4 of 13 NEXT PREV
Zack Whittaker

By Zack Whittaker for Between the Lines | November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST) | Topic: Networking

  • All aboard Gogo One, the company's private plane
  • Aircraft air-to-ground antenna
  • Gogo One, the company's test plane
  • Inside the main cabin
  • Takeoff from Newark International Airport
  • No Wi-Fi until we're at 10,000 feet
  • Gogo engineer testing Wi-Fi service
  • Hitting 10,000 feet and climbing
  • Testing out the texting service
  • And it works!
  • Gogo engineer's testing server station
  • Racks of servers as part of Gogo's test plane
  • Commercial aircraft will just have one of these boxes...

ZDNet's Zack Whittaker boarded Gogo's private jet to find out more and test the company's latest service: texting and talking as though you were on the ground.

Read More Read Less

Inside the main cabin

The plane itself was plush but small. But there was no need to wait in line at the TSA checkpoint. Because it's a private flight, there was no security. We even got to poke our heads into the cockpit -- although, not while they were flying.

Published: November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST)

Caption by: Zack Whittaker

4 of 13 NEXT PREV

Related Topics:

Cloud Internet of Things Security Data Centers
Zack Whittaker

By Zack Whittaker for Between the Lines | November 8, 2013 -- 18:10 GMT (10:10 PST) | Topic: Networking

Show Comments
LOG IN TO COMMENT
  • My Profile
  • Log Out
| Community Guidelines

Join Discussion

Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

  • 1 of 3
  • TRENDnet TUC-ET5G USB-C 3.1 to 5GBASE-T Ethernet adapter

    The TRENDnet TUC-ET5G USB-C 3.1 to 5GBASE-T Ethernet adapter is capable of some serious data throughput -- up to 5Gbps over existing Cat5e or better cabling. ...

  • Anker PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C hub

    If you need a portable USB-C hub with an Ethernet port, this is for you.

  • Netgear Orbi RBK752 tri-band Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 mesh

    Netgear expands its Gigabit Wi-Fi 6 offering with a new, lower-priced, Orbi RBK752 mesh system.

  • Plugable UD-CA1A USB-C dock

    Universal USB 3.1 Type-C docking station with Power Delivery. 4K-capable HDMI display (4K at 30Hz, 2560x1600 at 60Hz). Provides 60W of power to charge attached system ...

  • OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter

    The OWC Thunderbolt 3 10G Ethernet Adapter capable of connecting to hyper-fast networks and offers amazing output speeds up to 10GBASE-T.

  • Plugable super-fast 2.5Gbps Ethernet adapter (in pictures)

    Need to connect your new laptop to a wired Ethernet network? Plugable has released a new 2.5Gbps Ethernet adapter, compatible with USB-C and USB 3.2 Gen 1. ...

  • Synology DS218j - Unboxing and fitting hard drives

    Adding many terabytes of storage to a network.

ZDNet
Connect with us

© 2021 ZDNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Privacy Policy | Cookie Settings | Advertise | Terms of Use

  • Topics
  • Galleries
  • Videos
  • Sponsored Narratives
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About ZDNet
  • Meet The Team
  • All Authors
  • RSS Feeds
  • Site Map
  • Reprint Policy
  • Manage | Log Out
  • Join | Log In
  • Membership
  • Newsletters
  • Site Assistance
  • ZDNet Academy
  • TechRepublic Forums