Story ID: 
Aircell goes gaga over Gogo Biz
By: Harry Weisberger
Caption: Aircell (Booth 3737) is celebrating rapid adoption of its Gogo Biz high-speed in-flight Internet service capability by business jet OEMs and charter and fr
Word Count: 424
Aircell (Booth 3737) is celebrating rapid adoption of its Gogo Biz high-speed in-flight Internet service capability by business jet OEMs and charter and fractional operators in the wake of its Gogo service's near-saturation of the air transport market. John Wade, Aircell executive v-p, called Aircell's Gogo Biz, "the fastest-selling product we've ever had–even in this economy." He will be participating in the NBAA panel, "Putting Satellite Communications to Work on Your Aircraft," today from 2 to 5 p.m. in Conference Room B308. Wade told AIN that the Gogo Biz air-ground system serving North America is the "first true, affordable, office-in-the-sky system. I've had users tell me, 'You gave me my life back. It's the first time in my life I've been able to land with my inbox empty.'" Wade added that the product has brought Internet access cost down by an order of magnitude, to less than $100,000 for business aviation broadband access, with equipment installed.Bombardier has joined Dassault and Cessna in making a range of Aircell offerings available as factory options. Bombardier recently chose a suite of Aircell systems aboard select Learjet and Challenger models. This variety of equipment and network services includes Aircell Axxess cabin communications, an Iridium-based global voice and narrowband data service; a SwiftBroadband solution powered by Thrane & Thrane, providing data connectivity for e-mail and light Internet service through the Inmarsat I-4 constellation; and Gogo Biz. Gogo Biz serves North America through a network of air-to-ground links similar to cellular telephone, with data throughput as high as 3.1Mbps. Thus text messages, voice calls, e-mails and large documents are all being sent from and received in aircraft cabins. Aircell has been holding a series of seminars in which business aviation operators and users can learn about satellite networks, service providers, required hardware and system capabilities, not only Aircell's but those available throughout the inflight communications industry. The next two of these Aircell seminars are scheduled for October 28 in Reno, Nev., at the Grand Sierra Resort, and November 18 in Tampa at the Embassy Suites on the University of South Florida campus. Both events are in conjunction with Aircraft Electronics Association regional meetings. Broomfield, Colo.-based Aircell has already held nearly two dozen of the 45-minute "Getting Your Business Aircraft Online: The Seminar" sessions nationwide. They offer detailed understanding of the new generation of in-flight connectivity from most basic to the most comprehensive services available.Aircell is giving NBAA attendees complimentary coupons for free Gogo airborne Wi-Fi use on their post-convention return airline flights. Passengers normally pay $12.95 per flight for the service.