Singapore Airlines taxis for Wi-Fi takeoff
The Asian airline announced on Tuesday that it has signed a letter of intent with Boeing's wireless technology unit to give passengers access to a broadband connection on some of its long-haul flights next year.
Under the agreement, 40 of Singapore Airlines' planes will be equipped with Wi-Fi connections to high-speed satellite service. The hot-spot connections will allow passengers to surf the Web, to send and receive e-mail and to view broadcast TV channels, according to Connexion by Boeing.
The airline is the latest major air carrier to sign up with Connexion by Boeing and to explore broadband service as a way to generate revenue. Analysts have identified travel locations--airplanes, trains and other places where traveling business users are essentially captive--as a category likely to offer successful business opportunities for Wi-Fi hot-spot and broadband service providers.
"Provided that they don't overprice it, it will be a winner," said John Yunker, an analyst with research firm Pyramid Research.
