Tuesday, October 4, 2005
WiFi Tough Sell In the US
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "NEWS" @ 05:30 PM
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/04/business/04soff.html?ei=5090&en=147e5e54c6b76d05&ex=1286078400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
With WiFi rates near $10 per hour, it is laughable to expect most people, or even a few, to use it.
"Do the math," said Terry Wiseman, an expert on in-flight technology. "If the technology were there just for the benefit of passengers, the numbers just wouldn't add up." He is right. To the estimated $500,000 to $600,000 it will cost to fit a plane with wireless technology, add the revenue lost in the two weeks the installation will keep the aircraft on the ground. And the current systems are heavy, causing the planes to consume more fuel. With demand for the service estimated to be about 20 percent of all passengers, Mr. Wiseman and other industry watchers say it will be impossible for airlines to squeeze a profit out of onboard Wi-Fi, at least in the early days."
Twenty percent usage at $10/hr? :rotfl: Forget that. Just do what I do. Before leaving, I simply download the internet to my laptop for offline viewing. There is another article on WiFi in the air here.
With WiFi rates near $10 per hour, it is laughable to expect most people, or even a few, to use it.
"Do the math," said Terry Wiseman, an expert on in-flight technology. "If the technology were there just for the benefit of passengers, the numbers just wouldn't add up." He is right. To the estimated $500,000 to $600,000 it will cost to fit a plane with wireless technology, add the revenue lost in the two weeks the installation will keep the aircraft on the ground. And the current systems are heavy, causing the planes to consume more fuel. With demand for the service estimated to be about 20 percent of all passengers, Mr. Wiseman and other industry watchers say it will be impossible for airlines to squeeze a profit out of onboard Wi-Fi, at least in the early days."
Twenty percent usage at $10/hr? :rotfl: Forget that. Just do what I do. Before leaving, I simply download the internet to my laptop for offline viewing. There is another article on WiFi in the air here.
