Search:  

 
theme to white backgroundlet page decide theme
HomeFind ServiceReviewsISP NewsFAQsForumsToolsDatabaseAbout 
 
   News
newer
story category Google And Virgin Offer Free In-Flight Wi-Fi
On all flights from November 10 to January 15
06:12PM Monday Oct 19 2009 by Karl Bode
tags: business · bandwidth · wireless
Google and Virgin America today announced via the Google blog that the two companies would be teaming up to offer Virgin customers free Wi-Fi service on every Virgin America flight between November 10, 2009 and January 15, 2010. Like Delta, American Airlines and United, Virgin is using Aircell's "Gogo" in-flight broadband service. Gogo usually costs $7.95 for smart phone access on flights of any length, $9.95 for regular access on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours.

Related:
  1. Google Voice Ban Is Clear Network Neutrality Violation
  2. Cablevision: FiOS? What's FiOS?
  3. 10 New Clearwire Markets Launch September 1
  4. Netflix Streaming Coming To Wii, iPhone
  5. AT&T Nervous About Smooth iPhone MMS Launch
  6. Still No iPhone Tethering
  7. Walmart Takes Flak For Limited, Unlimited Wireless
  8. Mandatory Smartphone Data Plans Seem Hypocritical
Forums » Google And Virgin Offer Free In-Flight Wi-Fi
view: topics flat text 
Post a:
crashoverride

join:2009-09-05

Awesome

I wonder how long it will be before on of the Bells retaliates saying the speed is so slow, it is not nun friendly?
permalink · 2009-10-19 16:44:58 · Reply to this
dfxmatt

join:2007-08-21
Evanston, IL

Re: Awesome

I can't wait for someone to pull a "we're running out of bandwidth!" on this or "you're going to crash the planes" or similar logic.
permalink · 2009-10-19 16:54:38 · Reply to this

Van
Premium
join:2009-07-08
Washington, DC

Re: Awesome

I am sure that is not too far behind

Was in an airport last weekend and shocked at how much they wanted me to pay for their internet. I don't mind paying but good grief, just way too much

I stuck with my iPhone instead
permalink · 2009-10-20 08:00:24 · Reply to this
PapaMidnight

join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD		 Throw in some power (AC preferred) and we're all set. Who knows, LAN party at 40,000 feet anyone?
permalink · 2009-10-19 17:12:02 · Reply to this
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO

Re: Awesome

Virgin America has AC power to every seat if I remember correctly. So yes, you could totally do a LAN party in the sky.
permalink · 2009-10-19 19:40:59 · Reply to this
quatrix
Premium
join:2005-02-11
Davie, FL
said by PapaMidnight See Profile :

Throw in some power (AC preferred) and we're all set. Who knows, LAN party at 40,000 feet anyone?
I don't think most flights carry that many losers at once.
permalink · 2009-10-21 13:24:42 · Reply to this
mobbo

join:2005-04-13
Denton, TX
·Verizon FIOS

Suprisingly good

I got the chance to try out gogo on an American Airlines flight from Dallas to Salt Lake City last friday and I loved it. Speedtest showed about 1.5Mbps down and 400Kbps up, which is better than I expected. I was able to chat via Facebook and watch YouTube videos the whole time. Made the flight time fly by I was a little disappointed that access wasn't included in first-class though, but $10 was well worth it IMO.
permalink · 2009-10-19 16:48:15 · Reply to this

morbo
Complete Your Transaction

join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs:

Re: Suprisingly good

I agree. I tried it on a super 80 flight from the midwest to the pacific northwest. It worked surprisingly well and made the flight go by quickly. The return plane (newer and larger) didn't have the service so that was annoying.
permalink · 2009-10-19 16:56:45 · Reply to this
mobbo

join:2005-04-13
Denton, TX

Re: Suprisingly good

Ditto, the return flight was on an S80 and it didn't have it unfortunately.
permalink · 2009-10-19 16:59:58 · Reply to this

r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium
join:2001-11-14
St John'S, NL		 I used it on a delta flight back in May. The connection was great.
Ping google - 100ms
Down - 260 Kbps
UP - 240 Kbps
--
Democrats are not Socialists any more than Republicans are.
permalink · 2009-10-19 17:04:25 · Reply to this

MrMoody
Carbon Based Lifeform

join:2002-09-03
Smithfield, NC
·Embarq
·Skype
·magicjack.com

 I'm guessing the $10 price is what's keeping it fast. During the free period, it will probably be like free motel wifi, painfully slow.
--
CO2 is not a pollutant. It feeds the starving.
permalink · 2009-10-19 17:58:03 · Reply to this

Gbcue
E.I.T.
Premium
join:2001-09-30
Santa Rosa, CA
clubs:
·T-Mobile US
·Skype
·Dreamhost
·Comcast
·AT&T U-Verse

News?

Didn't even know this story would be newsworthy otherwise I would have tipped Karl to this in the morning .
--
My BLOG!
Black Friday Ads
permalink · 2009-10-19 17:01:48 · Reply to this

r81984
Fair and Balanced
Premium
join:2001-11-14
St John'S, NL
·magicjack.com
·Cox HSI
·Insight Communicat..
·AT&T Midwest

Re: News?

said by Gbcue See Profile :

Didn't even know this story would be newsworthy otherwise I would have tipped Karl to this in the morning .
Here is a cookie.
--
Democrats are not Socialists any more than Republicans are.
permalink · 2009-10-19 17:06:37 · Print · Reply to this
PapaMidnight

join:2009-01-13
Baltimore, MD

1 edit

Re: News?

said by r81984 See Profile :

said by Gbcue See Profile :

Didn't even know this story would be newsworthy otherwise I would have tipped Karl to this in the morning .
Here is a cookie.
Can I have a cookie too? I mean, not as a matter of principle, I just want a cookie.
permalink · 2009-10-19 17:13:05 · Print · Reply to this
AstroBoy

join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD

Re: News?

said by PapaMidnight See Profile :

said by r81984 See Profile :

said by Gbcue See Profile :

Didn't even know this story would be newsworthy otherwise I would have tipped Karl to this in the morning .
Here is a cookie.
Can I have a cookie too? I mean, not as a matter of principle, I just want a cookie.
Me too! Please?
permalink · 2009-10-19 17:56:11 · Print · Reply to this
iansltx

join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO

Re: News?

You're logged in. You have a cookie
permalink · 2009-10-19 19:42:11 · Reply to this
stufried
Premium
join:2003-10-13
·Verizon BroadbandA..

Re: News?

What am I missing here. I thought GoGo used EVDO based ground stations. Virgin is a UK based carrier with some service to major US cities. What happens when the plane hits the Atlantic? What happens when it crosses it? Does GoGo now have similar deals with European GSM providers?
permalink · 2009-10-19 20:15:16 · Reply to this
mhetterm

join:2001-11-01
Altadena, CA

Re: News?

Virgin America is a new airline (albeit 25% owned by the UK business entity) that flies between US cities - mostly transcon (LA-DC, LA-NY, SF-DC, SF-NY, etc)
permalink · 2009-10-19 20:29:12 · Reply to this

CookieMnstr

@comcast.net		 OMG COOKIE.
permalink · 2009-10-20 09:08:23 · Reply to this
Tairei

join:2009-07-01
Beaverton, OR

It was neat.

Flew to Virginia from Portland, OR and back. Got free access through a trial program and it was great. Checked email, updated blog, even did some work and uploaded it.

Watched some movies too. Flight time of 8 hours? Didn't even notice it.
permalink · 2009-10-19 23:10:44 · Reply to this

yuduyl
Premium
join:2006-02-26
Cando, ND
·Midcontinent Commu..

1 edit

Hmmmmm...

I think it would be a better promotion if they were to offer free virgins on flights with purchase of Google Wi-Fi .
--
"Oh, you should never, never doubt what nobody is sure about" Willy Wonka 1971
permalink · 2009-10-20 05:27:32 · Reply to this

heat84

join:2004-03-11
Fort Lauderdale, FL
·Comcast
·AT&T Southeast

3 edits

AirTran offers GoGo for free and its not a promotion.

»www.airtran.com/wifi/gogo.aspx
Noone else here has flown AirTran? You'd rather get gouged by the major airlines?
Edit: It does say purchase on that page, but I thought kept hearing the word complementary on the flights I was on.
--Bit Torrent is my DVR.
permalink · 2009-10-20 19:28:56 · Reply to this
Forums » Google And Virgin Offer Free In-Flight Wi-Fi

Tuesday, 24-Nov 12:18:32 Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Hosting by www.nac.net - DSL,Hosting & Co-lo | feedback | contact
over 10 years online! © 1999-2009 dslreports.com.