Virgin America and AirCell partner to deliver broadband internet and instant messaging at 35,000 feet
SAN FRANCISCO and ITASCA, Ill., Sept. 13/PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, a next generation airline that began service on August 8, today announced that it is partnering with AirCell(R) in an effort aimed at offering air-to-ground broadband internet service on Virgin America flights sometime in 2008. Guests onboard America's newest airline will be able to access the internet either through their wifi-enabled personal devices or through the Red(TM) Inflight Entertainment system at every seat.
Customized for Virgin America, the system is anticipated to allow guests to connect to the internet with the AirCell Broadband Service, using either their Red(TM) seatback video screens or their own wifi enabled portable gaming devices, laptops, PDAs or Smartphones. As such, in addition to the many entertainment choices currently offered by Red(TM) guests will be able to check and send web-email from their seatbacks through Red(TM)'s TALK -- the airline's onboard chat system -- using popular instant messaging services such as MSN(R), Google(R) talk, Yahoo!(R) Skype, and AIM(R).
"We believe that broadband connectivity on our planes will help enhance the inflight experience for our guests," said Charles Ogilvie, Virgin America's Director of Inflight Entertainment & Partnerships. "Whether it's IMing with your friends, updating your blog, getting a stock quote, sending photos from your trip to friends, watching a movie or sending a work email, we plan to make it all available on a Virgin America plane."
Once operational, the Virgin America-AirCell system will allow Virgin America's guests to receive this airborne functionality on every flight. Virgin America is the first airline to announce and commit to a planned full-fleet deployment of broadband connectivity.
"Equipping an entire fleet of aircraft with broadband capability is an enormous step forward for the airline industry, and more importantly for passengers. The excitement here at AirCell to see our service complement Virgin America's Red(TM) is amazing!" said Jack Blumenstein, CEO. "Our service is designed from ground up to help airlines reach new heights and Virgin America is certainly using it for that."
It is anticipated that the AirCell on Red(TM) capability will be made available on Virgin America aircraft sometime in 2008.
About Virgin America:
As San Francisco's hometown airline, Virgin America is a next generation low-fare carrier that will serve as many as 10 cities within a year of operation, and up to 30 cities within five years. Virgin America's brand new planes will offer a host of inventive guest features aimed at bringing a little fun back to flying -- including the most advanced personal in-flight entertainment system in the domestic airline market, mood-lit cabins, custom-designed leather seats and plugs for laptops and other portable electronic devices at every seat. To learn more about Virgin America visit: www.virginamerica.com.
About AirCell:
AirCell LLC is the leader in global airborne telecommunications for the Commercial and Business Aviation markets. The winner of the FCC's exclusive broadband frequency license in 2006, AirCell is pioneering a revolutionary new wireless broadband system for North America. AirCell broadband system will include robust Wi-Fi hotspots that enable airline passengers to surf the Internet, use e-mail, and log on to their corporate VPN's using their personal Wi-Fi equipped devices. The system will also offer airline operational communications capabilities and provide a path to a wealth of future cabin services. Set for introduction in 2008, the new broadband service will also be available to business aircraft operators, offering a similar set of features. AirCell (http://www.AirCell.com) has facilities in Louisville, Colorado, and Itasca, Illinois.
SOURCE Virgin America
