Focus on inflight entertainment
content to some of its US customers via its
onboard network. American Airlines had targeted 400 aircraft by end of 2011 with the new Gogo service. The entertainment on demand allows passengers to stream content wirelessly such as movies and TV shows from an inflight library to their wi-fi-enabled laptops during flights. The aircraft operating the service are B767s, and new aircraft will number more than 90 MD-80s. The rest of the fleet consisting of more MD-80s and B737-800s will be equipped by the end of 2012. Row44 offers a wireless video-on-demand
service inflight. Movies and general programming can be streamed to passenger wi-fi devices/PEDS. PAC also announced a wireless content
streaming system last year, under the brand of eXW. The portal can be configured to airline and personalised to individual passengers. Storage includes a minimum 40 full-length multi-language movies, 100 short programmes, 100 audio CDs, electronic newspapers, digital magazines, and cached web content. If combined with Panasonic’s eXConnect inflight connectivity service (Ku band) eXW can offer high-speed Internet access, social media services, email, and TV. As the propensity to bring personal electronic devices increases, entertainment can be brought to passengers where there is no IFE system onboard. The content community – Hollywood distributors and movie houses – are worried about the security of their product as new forms of IFE push it increasingly ‘in the clear’. This is when the content could be decrypted and accessed illegally.
Studios are increasingly concerned about systems where content is streamed to the passenger's handheld device. They see a threat to their region licensing when a passenger disembarks with content on a device in a region where the content rights would be violated. This is an issue that is likely to create controversy over the coming year. The movie industry and the technology industry will need to collaborate and ensure that content remains secure should it be taken off an aircraft in any given time period. Otherwise the movie industry may institute tougher content licensing regulations. The key points remain, as to how new technologies will affect content rights once the content leaves the aircraft? And as to how the content will be protected as it migrates from server to the passenger’s own device, and moreover, back on the ground at the final destination. Will content providers resist releasing their most prized assets to new wireless streaming technologies? One system that is planned to enable content
to be taken offboard is from a ‘new’ IFE vendor, Lufthansa Systems. BoardConnect is now providing streaming content on Condor Berlin to passengers with iPads. BoardConnect functions
with or without a corresponding connectivity service. It is due to launch this year on Virgin America, and also on Virgin Australia. Qantas has just started a trial of the system under its own brand Q Streaming. BoardConnect delivers content direct to the passenger’s own device (PEDS) and as such bypasses the need for an embedded IFE system. This is attractive to single aisle aircraft operated by airlines which want to offer value-added service onboard. In the Qantas trial, all domestic customers flying
the nominated B767 will be able to access inflight entertainment using Apple iPads. The iPads will be loaned free to customers during the trial. The BoardConnect system will be on demo
for the first time at the AIX Hamburg show in March this year. Thales, a leader in IFEC technology, is
partnering with Siemens Communications, Media and Technologies (Siemens CMT) on the development and testing of a new onboard wireless content distribution system that will complement the Thales TopSeries product family. Early this year the Thales and Siemens solution will be tested in a flight trial with an undisclosed airline to validate a wide variety of Media4Sky features. The solution integrates the Siemens Media4Sky onboard application to the TopSeries system, and will enable passengers to receive streaming video, audio, and many other applications from the TopSeries digital server to their many different types of mobile devices. The application also includes a business
management system that supports payment processing and dynamic content storage such as news. “The combination of the TopSeries hardware and Media4Sky applications bring together a contemporary, dynamic, user- friendly flying experience that will excite and engage all passengers. We are delighted to pursue this breakthrough initiative that is built on the proven work Siemens has accomplished in other transportation markets,” said Alan Pellegrini managing director for the Thales In-flight Entertainment business.
CENTRIC INSEAT An inseat wireless content system took off for the first time in December. RAVE, from The
Above top, Brussels Airlines has launched a new system, RAVE, on its new A330s. Left: Thales TopSeries AVANT (see News )
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