Pacific Ocean coverage will follow approximately a year later. The slow rollout of Boeing's service outside the U.S. is providing rivals with an opportunity. While Tenzing already launched its airborne Internet service with Singapore Airlines, the service doesn't offer real-time broadband access. Its system uses servers onboard the plane to cache a finite set of Web content before take-off. During a flight, this content is updated using globe-spanning Inmarsat satellites over a relatively slow connection.
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Tenzing plans to eventually charge for e-mail transmission. It'll set up an appetite for true broadband access. Boeing has high hopes for the Connexion service, which is targeted squarely at business users willing to pay for a useful service. The Industry Standard. All rights reserved.