Incoming: Wi-Fi inside airplanes

“Flight attendant: You may now turn on your Wi-Fi enabled devices”

They said we’ll soon be hearing those lines when we board airplanes.

Starting next week and over the next few months, several United States airlines will test Internet service on their planes.

On Tuesday, JetBlue Airways will begin offering a free e-mail and instant messaging service on one of its planes, while American Airlines, Virgin America and Alaska Airlines plan to offer broader Web access in coming months, probably at a cost around $10 a flight.

“I think 2008 is the year when we will finally start to see in-flight Internet access become available,” said Henry Harteveldt, an analyst with Forrester Research, “but I suspect the rollout domestically will take place in a very measured way.” “In a few years time,” he added, “if you get on a flight that doesn’t have Internet access, it will be like walking into a hotel room that doesn’t have TV.”

The airlines’ goal is to turn their planes into the equivalent of wireless hot spots once they reach cruising altitude. These services will not be available on takeoff or landing.

Virgin America even plans to link the technology to its seat-back entertainment system, enabling passengers who are not traveling with laptops or smart phones to send messages on a flight.

Source and more: The New York Times

So, put Wi-Fi access to airplanes and you’ll hear people calling their love ones or boss calling his/her staff on board the plane.. HOW? thru VOIP!

Hmmm.. how about terrorism? Terrorist will be able to use Wi-Fi enabled devices to hype up their activities – like locate their targets (but they’re using a system right now right? =p  ).

But hey, this news is good for Blogging!!!!! hahahhaha