Panasonic Looks to Connect
If Glenn Fleishman knows anything (and he usually does), Panasonic is stepping into the void left by the end of Connexion by Boeing, by opening their own in-flight WiFi operation.
According to Fleishman:
Panasonic wants commitments within 60 days from airlines for 500 planes to be equipped; they say they have 150 committed now. Lufthansa has over 60 planes with Connexion and SAS with about 20; I suspect both airlines have signed on.
The antennae used for the Panasonic operation will weigh less and rely on better technology than the Connexion antennae did, giving Panasonic a distinct advantage in a market that has yet to prove profitable.
What I want to know is whether Panasonic has addressed the very real question raised by Robert Scoble about access to electrical power. Who wants to pay $15 for a day of WiFi only to have their computer run out of battery after 2-3 hours?
When retrofitting the aircraft with their antenna, Panasonic should think about throwing in a few power strips as well…
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s weak: you are in the business, and your think the IFE supplier can dictate the on-board hardware to the airline who buys it? If so, ALL planes would have power. And whats with the “power strip”? you know thats a safety issue.
JC: Sorry you think a legitimate business observation is “weak.” I think it’s pretty spot on.
Obviously, I wasn’t talking about the kind of “power strips” you have in your house. Those would definitely be a safety issue! Given that many airlines have onboard power supplies for at least some of their seats, I’d say that it can be done safely.
And no, I don’t believe that an IFE provider can “dictate” anything to the airline. But it might be smart for them to try to reach some kind of agreement about power supplies.
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