Aircell
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aircell is a private company started in 1991 developing broadband for both private and commercial aviation. Company lore holds that the idea for Aircell began in a barbecue restaurant in Denison, Texas, where company founder Jimmy Ray first made sketches on a paper napkin for an affordable telephone system for airplanes. Jimmy Ray’s subsequent investigation of the market and exploration of alternate technologies resulted in the formation of Aircell.
Aircell is the only company in the United States authorized by the FCC and FAA to use cellular frequencies for inflight communications. Aircell successfully bid $31.7 million for a 3MHz air-to-ground spectrum in a FCC auction in June 2006.[1]
Aircell holds over 20 patents relating to technology for airborne telecommunications. Formation, which is based in Moorestown, NJ, has developed two critical hardware components of Aircell's Broadband System that will help to deliver passengers Inflight Internet connectivity. The hardware includes Aircell's Central Processor Unit (ACPU) and the custom built Cabin Wireless Access Point (CWAP).[2]
On August 1, 2007, American Airlines partnered with Aircell to offer broadband on American's flights.[3] On September 13, 2007, Virgin America partnered with Aircell to add broadband capabilities to their flights.[4]
On January 22, 2008, American Airlines completed the first aircraft installation of the Aircell Internet broadband connection at American's Kansas City maintenance base. The airline plans to install and test the broadband technology in 2008 on all 15 of its Boeing 767-200 aircraft.[5] The technology will provide customers an Internet connection, virtual private network (VPN) access and email capabilities.
On February 29, 2008, Aircell unveiled the product name, Gogo, with the release of a new website: http://www.gogoinflight.com. [1].
