Panasonic to salvage Connexion for own in-flight use?

For those of you a-feared of losing your in-flight internets due to Boeing's recent decision to shutter their Connexion service, it looks like there could be more hope on the horizon. Turns out Panasonic is going to give it a shot, with their new service that bumps speeds to 12Mbps/3Mbps from Boeing's weak-sauce 5Mbps/1Mbps, and can be easily deployed in planes already prepped for Connexion. In order to have a sizable rollout, and to make sure existing Connexion users aren't left high and dry, Panasonic has set a 60-day deadline for airlines to sign up 500 planes to the service -- they have 150 committed so far. Along with improved speeds, Panasonic is using some cheaper and more compact equipment, and they hope to pass those savings along to the airlines with a wholesale rate comparable to terrestrial access. Whether that means cheaper prices for users remains to be seen -- we're not holding our breath.

[Via Techdirt]

[djrickp @ Sep 20th 2006 10:56AM]

The speeds are nice but what about latency?
http://cwsi.net

[Alex @ Sep 20th 2006 10:56AM]

This would be so sweet if you could get zippy WiFi for like $5/flight.

[Kansei @ Sep 20th 2006 11:19AM]

omg no! those are Dell Latitudes in the picture!!! run for cover!!!

:P

I'm still pissed that there hasn't been feverish coverage of the possible ThinkPad battery recall after that explosion at LAX... I wanna know if it is safe for me to put my primary system battery (and the only thinkpad battery I have that holds much of a charge after just over a year of use, almost always plugged in) back in.

[effward @ Sep 20th 2006 11:19AM]

That is pretty cool, I can't wait to go on a flight with it.

[Jaffa @ Sep 20th 2006 11:31AM]

With all the panic about exploding laptop batteries, there'll be nothing allowed on the plane to surf the internet on!

[Big Sam @ Sep 20th 2006 12:35PM]

PSP, Windows Mobile phones, Sony mylo, etc..

[Sam @ Sep 20th 2006 12:43PM]

PSP, Windows Mobile phones, Sony mylo, etc..

[Andir3.0 @ Sep 20th 2006 1:13PM]

Since when do plains have that much legroom!! I'm 6'2" and the last flight I was on I remember having sore knees from someone reclining their chair...

[Brendan @ Sep 20th 2006 3:16PM]

that is what they call "first class" basically paying to, in your case, not have sore knees after the flight.

and they are still allowing laptops in the plane, the batteries just have to be in checked baggage. so you can still use it, assuming that you have an airline adapter, and are close enough to a plug, and no one else is using it...hmmm...a few to many assumptions there for me...

[Jimal @ Sep 20th 2006 1:27PM]

A faster speed would be great.