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Alaska Gets Its Wireless Internet Test Up and Running

By Brett Snyder | Feb 27, 2009

It seems like ages ago that Alaska said it would do a wireless internet test, but then again, it probably was ages ago. It took Row 44 quite some time to get its satellite system ready to go, but closely following on the heels of the Southwest test, Alaska has started one of its own.

The test is on one single, lonely 737-700 aircraft for now, and that’s about all we know. They’ll run a test for 60 days and there won’t be any charge during that time. So if they decide to move forward, they’ll have to announce their pricing structure at that point.

I’m still waiting for one airline that ran a test to actually commit to a full installation. We’ve seen Delta do a massive install and Virgin America as well, but they never planned a test first. I want to see American, United, Southwest, or Alaska say that they’ve seen positive results and they’re moving forward with a full installation. Only then can we know if this is going to be a revenue-winner for them or not.

Tags: Wireless Internet, Test, Alaska, Wireless, Internet, Wi-Fi, Wireless And Mobility, Network Technology, Networking, Brett Snyder

In addition to writing BNET's travel industry blog, Brett Snyder also pens the award-winning consumer travel blog, Cranky Flier. You can follow him on Twitter under the name crankyflier.

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Web Buzz:

  • Alaska and Southwest to decide soon says Row 44

    IAG - 236 days 4 hours 14 minutes ago

    "We expect Alaska and Southwest Airlines to make a decision during this quarter," Row 44 president Gregg Fialcowitz said here today. Row 44 began trials of its Ku-band satellite broadband system with the carriers earlier this year. We did a podcast from a Southwest flight you might recall. "We also expect to be able to make an announcement in...

  • Southwest Tests Inflight Broadband

    Aviation Week - 285 days 13 hours 16 minutes ago

    Southwest Airlines as expected has started passenger trials of an inflight broadband service from Row 44 that should continue for several months. "Internet connectivity has been high on our list of priorities for quite some time," said Senior VP of Marketing and Revenue Management Dave Ridley. "We believe the aircraft-to-satellite technology is...

  • Will Southwest charge peanuts for Wi-Fi?

    Flightglobal - 154 days 14 hours 6 minutes ago

    Ah yes, the moment of truth has arrived - Southwest Airlines wants to know how much money passengers are willing to pay to use Row 44's in-flight high-speed Internet system . Like Alaska Airlines before it, Southwest on 24 June will begin testing a variety of price points for the service, which is currently offered for free on four...

  • Alaska Air commences trial of inflight WiFi

    FierceMarkets - 266 days 22 hours 45 minutes ago

    Alaska Airlines launched a customer trial of its new satellite-based Internet service from Row 44. Named Alaska Airlines Inflight WiFi, the service will be free at the trial's start, which began on an afternoon flight between Seattle and San Jose, Calif. The trial will last about two months, after which Alaska Airlines will determine how it...

  • Southwest Airlines' In-Flight Wi-Fi Free While In Beta [In-flight Wi-fi]

    Gizmodo - 285 days 13 hours 8 minutes ago

    Southwest this week began testing their own in-flight wi-fi service, based on a satellite connection from Row 44. It's on one plane now with more coming soon, and right now, it's free. Southwest is using a satellite-based system from Row 44, and not the cellular connection used by most other airlines with Aircell's GoGo service. So if you find...

 
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  •  
    1

    danwebb

    02/27/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Alaska Gets Its Wireless Internet Test Up and Running

    Southwest and Alaksa are both doing test periods and doing Row 44 - does it have to do with the fact Row 44 is still waiting for FCC certification?

  •  
    2

    brett snyder

    03/02/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Alaska Gets Its Wireless Internet Test Up and Running

    @danwebb - I think the delay in the timing of the test had to do with Row 44's issues, but if they can put it on one plane they should be able to put it on all of them relatively soon if they so choose. We'll see.

  •  
    3

    malbarda

    03/02/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Alaska Gets Its Wireless Internet Test Up and Running

    I think Delta has made a strategic decision and is equiping its whole fleet. See the Delta blog entry where the geeks exchange which planes have been converted and how fast the conversion is going...

    http://blog.delta.com/2009/02/23/mod-blog-emerging-from-winter/

  •  
    4

    brett snyder

    03/03/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Alaska Gets Its Wireless Internet Test Up and Running

    @malbarda - Yeah, Delta has decided to go full out here, but that wasn't based on the results of any test. As you've said, they just made the strategic decision. I'm looking to see an airline that's running a test decide that the numbers make sense and they should roll it out fleetwide.

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