As a growing number of international air carriers take WiFi to the skies, most US airlines remain earthbound in terms of wireless Internet access. Not a single US airline has yet signed on with Connexion by Boeing, a satellite-based in-flight Internet service that's gaining popularity with the world's airlines -- a dozen, so far. It seems that few cash-strapped US airlines can pony up the sizeable investment required for airborne WiFi. Yet the tide may be slowly turning. United says it plans to take WiFi to the skies sometime next year. Boeing says it's in discussions with several US airlines about its service. American, Delta, and United were original Connexion investors, but all three pulled their financial support in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
For more info on WiFi-on-the-fly:
- check out this InformationWeek article
PLUS: Citing "safety" Boston's Logan Airport wants Continental to halt free WiFi wireless. Article