Boeing, Intel Partner on In-Flight Wi-Fi

— -- Connexion by Boeing, a business unit of The Boeing Company, and Intel have announced plans to promote high-speed, in-flight wireless Internet services, and say they have successfully finished compatibility tests with laptops that use Intel's Centrino mobile technology.

Connexion by Boeing Wi-Fi service is available already on 70 airplanes and 100 daily routes worldwide on Lufthansa Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Japan Airlines, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and China Airlines. Soon, Austrian Airlines, Korean Air, El Al, Asiana, and Etihad will begin offering the services on long-range aircraft.

The announcement marks the first time Intel and Connexion by Boeing have worked together on the in-flight Wi-Fi effort, and includes the addition of Intel's Wireless Verification Program to the partnership. Through that verification program, Intel works with wireless service providers to improve quality of service, having verified 103 service providers in 70,000 hotspots worldwide.

Connexion by Boeing spokesman Terrance Scott says Intel's involvement will help ensure that air passengers have high-quality in-flight Wi-Fi service. Connexion already has reached wireless roaming agreements with more than 600 corporations and 17 service providers as part of its efforts to build the in-flight service.

Travelers connect through an established account with Connexion by Boeing or use the roaming platforms of their existing wireless providers, typically paying $29.95 for unlimited access on an international flight, or $19.95 for access on flights lasting less than 6 hours.