Originally published January 4 2006
Verizon to provide in-flight wireless internet and VoIP
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Verizon Airfone plans to begin offering in-flight WiFi access in 2007 now that the FCC has approved the auctioning of spectrum licenses among carriers. In-flight tests have been in progress since September of last year.
The agency's move would allow Verizon Airfone to begin offering in-flight wireless Internet access in 2007 if the carrier acquires a license.
"We are pleased with the FCC's efforts to promote the development of broadband services, and we urge the FCC to move as quickly as possible to auction new licenses in the 800 MHz band," said Bill Pallone, president, Verizon Airfone Inc. "Verizon Airfone is excited about the opportunity to provide innovative wireless services to the flying public, and there are many interested airlines and general aviation operators that share our commitment to this broadband vision."
"In June 2005, Verizon Airfone became the first company to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to install the necessary cabin equipment to enable passenger and crew use of wireless (WiFi) devices onboard U.S. domestic commercial aircraft," noted the company's news release.
Verizon Airfone joined forces with CDMA developer QUALCOMM Incorporated in order to complete their first commercially packaged air radio prototype in July.
Verizon Airfone in-flight WiFi service will provide passengers with access to the Internet; corporate VPN (Virtual Private Network) e-mail and Web-based personal e-mail accounts; streaming video; and VoIP services.
Once Verizon Airfone's broadband network is in place, airlines and general aviation operators only need to hook up an avionics box, a wireless access point and a directional antenna to begin offering wireless broadband services to their passengers.
The service is either currently being offered or will soon be offered in select commercial flights by Singapore Airlines, Luftansa, British Airways, Japan Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines and China Airlines.
Connexion by Boeing also teamed up with QUALCOMM Incorporated for this project just as Verizon Airfone did.
The companies performed a series of test flights that successfully demonstrated the simultaneous use of CDMA and GSM mobile phone technology over an on-board network with infrastructure and integration support from UTStarcom, Inc. Using standard cellular communications, a small in-cabin CDMA2000 and GSM "picocell," or small cellular base station, is connected to the worldwide terrestrial network by an air-to-ground satellite link provided by the Connexion by Boeing high-speed airborne network.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml