Panasonic May Relaunch In-flight Broadband

Glenn Fleishman writes "Panasonic's avionics division may relaunch Connexion by Boeing by using similar technology that's better, cheaper, and lighter. The company said today that they were looking to get airlines to commit to 500 planes within 60 days, and already had 150 aircraft committed. They'd still use Ku band, but have a cheaper and smaller set of leases. Connexion had at least $120m in yearly fixed expenses, a large part of which was transponder licenses. The new service would provide 12 Mbps down and 3 Mbps (versus Connexion's 5 Mbps/1 Mbps), and be priced conceivably as low as $10 per session wholesale, with airlines choosing to not mark up rates. With that higher rate, even with latency, in-flight VoIP seems more achievable at a reasonable cost, although some airlines may choose to block VoIP services. I reported for The Economist magazine last week about mobile phones in flight (services coming in Europe in 2007). Three U.S. airlines told me that American passengers have very low interest or negative interest in allowing any voice (cell or otherwise) during flights. Europeans, with shorter flights and lower expectations of privacy perhaps, are more open to it." We covered the story back when Boeing decided to scrap Connexion.

Comments

Re:It's not about privacy

[atomicstrawberry]

The fact that it's not allowed at the moment might also have something to do with the fact that the electromagnetic radiation from cellphones have been proven to be capable of induction of current in aircraft electronics, which in turn can interfere with instruments. You know, like the computer that handles the autopilot that flies the plane most of the time.

Yes, I know that this is one of the major reasons why they put shielding all over all the sensitive wiring, so it shouldn't happen. That doesn't mean it won't happen, though - they said that the Titanic could never sink too. There's been a few aircraft anomolies and accidents recently which are suspected of being caused by cellphones, and there's the fact that a lot of the commercial aircraft flying at the moment are quite old, perhaps making them more susceptible to interference.

It may be statistically a small chance, but there is a reason why they have regulations against using cellphones in commercial aircraft.

It's probably worth noting that this is also completely irrelevant to the system being discussed in TFA, but this is slashdot after all.

Interesting Mind Games

[mrs clear plastic]

This reminds me of a mind game that I played in public once; in fact, it was on a bike trail in Seattle with many bicyclists and joggers. I was seated on a park bench, well within earshot of many of them.

I once took out my cell phone, flipped it open, and proceeded to dial a number. However, I never touched the send key. The phone was still switched off.

I waited an appropriate time and then said loudly:

"Hi! Is this Dr. Paul, the psychiatrist's office?"

I wait, and then say, "This is Mrs. Clear Plastic. I have a session now."

I would wait, say 'Thank you' to the receptionist, wait some more, and then proceed to act out my side of a therapy session, talking about my fetish in clear plastic, and adding in a whole lot of 'baggage'.

The looks of the passers-by were worth every moment of fun.

Now, perhaps it sounds like I should do this same game at the airport while you are all waiting in line . . .

All things in moderation?

[TrebleMaker]

Another reason I don't like cell phones on airplanes: The electromagnetic radiation causes "Troll" and "Funny" moderations to collectively transmogrify into "Underrated" mods after I hit the "Moderate" Button.