http://triangle.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2009/02/09/daily30.html?ana=e_du_pap Triangle Business Journal - February 10, 2009 Tuesday, February 10, 2009, 2:02pm EST Southwest Airlines tests in-flight Internet Triangle Business Journal Southwest Airlines Co. on Tuesday launched on-board testing of satellite technology designed to enable passengers to log on to the Internet via their own Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Dallas, Texas-based Southwest (NYSE: LUV) says one aircraft is equipped to test the system's effectiveness. The airline will be testing the technology on board this one flight, while planning to equip at least three additional planes by March 2009. During the testing phase, the service will be free, and is subject to final approval by the Federal Communications Commission. "Internet connectivity has been high on our list of priorities for quite some time," said Dave Ridley, Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President of Marketing and Revenue Management. "We believe the aircraft-to-satellite technology is the most robust solution in the industry, and we look forward to the feedback from our Customers." The technology is expected to allow passengers the opportunity to access the Internet via laptops, iPhones, and Wi-Fi enabled smart phones, the airline said. Cellular technology will not work with the Wi-Fi service. As part of its offering to passengers, Southwest has partnered with Yahoo! to create a homepage relevant to each flight, so passengers can access destination information while also tracking the flight's progress. Southwest's Wi-Fi system incorporates the high-speed broadband technology of Westlake Village, Calif.-based Row 44, a company that provides the technology infrastructure for airborne broadband communication. Southwest is No. 1 in passenger traffic at Raleigh-Durham International Airport. All contents of this site (c) American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".