msmobiles.com - Cellular News - Vodafone customers to be able to use Wi-Fi on board of airplaines thanks to a deal with Connexion by Boeing

Vodafone customers to be able to use Wi-Fi on board of airplaines thanks to a deal with Connexion by Boeing
December 13, 2004;
Interestingly the only cell phone equipped with Wi-Fi that Vodafone sells nowadays is VPA III Pocket PC phone (the one to the left):

The usage of Wi-Fi on the board of airplanes will be directly billed to user's GSM service account at Vodafone. More information from Vodafone follows.

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Connexion by Boeing and Vodafone Team Up to Trial High-Speed Internet Access in Flight

Vodafone and The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA), acting through its business unit Connexion by Boeing, today announced their intention to jointly trial the delivery of high-speed in-flight WiFi connectivity to airline passengers. Vodafone will be the first global mobile telecommunications operator to undergo trials with Connexion by Boeing, aimed at extending Vodafone's laptop data mobility services in flight.

The trial, due to start this month, will test the Vodafone customer experience with the Connexion by BoeingSM real-time, in-flight Internet service, which operates in a similar manner to ground based public Wi-Fi. Following successful completion of trials and Vodafone entering into a full agreement with Connexion by Boeing, Vodafone customers will be able to access the Internet or their corporate VPN, and have sessions billed to their Vodafone account.

"We are excited to work with Vodafone, which is a key global player in Europe and Asia, and to work toward a successful implementation of our services for their customers," said David Friedman, vice president of Marketing and Direct Sales for Connexion by Boeing. "Following successful trials and Vodafone entering into a commercial agreement with us, Vodafone customers will be able to access the Connexion by Boeing service on equipped commercial flights as we introduce high-speed in-flight connectivity worldwide."

Access by Vodafone customers to Connexion by Boeing's in-flight WiFi service is expected to launch first on Lufthansa flights in and out of Europe.

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