- Row 44
Row 44 is a
Westlake Village ,California based startup specializing in airborne broadband connectivity and communication services. The company offerssatellite -supported inflightinternet access ,live television andcell phone roaming services in the field ofcommercial aviation .Corporate history
Row 44 was founded in 2004 by British-born
entrepreneur John Guidon to compete with the in-flight Wi-Fi services of now defunctConnexion by Boeing . [" [http://www.shephard.co.uk/Inflight/Default.aspx?Action=-1000945703&ID=5e3c2af2-0f38-4019-94e2-2818c0361b3a Row 44 resurfaces to take aim at broadband market] ", shephard.co.uk,May 2 ,2007 ] The company is funded by private investors. [" [http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS114925+19-May-2008+PRN20080519 Row 44 Secures $21 Million Equity Investment] ", reuters.com,May 19 2008 ]The company's name is derived from Guidon's experience as a
teenager sitting in row 44 on aDC-10 airplane when travelling theUS [" [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_42_29/ai_n27430456 Row 44 tries to get airline Internet access off ground] ", Los Angeles Business Journal,October 15 2007 ] : “The seats don’t recline [in row 44] , you’re right under an engine, the galley’s right behind you and you’re next to the lavatories. If we can make the flight enjoyable for the folks in Row 44, we’ve accomplished our goal.” [" [http://www.shephard.co.uk/Inflight/Default.aspx?Action=-1000945703&ID=5e3c2af2-0f38-4019-94e2-2818c0361b3a Row 44 resurfaces to take aim at broadband market] ", shephard.co.uk,May 2 ,2007 ]atellite-based uplink
In contrast to other providers that use ground-based
antennas to link the aircraft to theirnetworks , Row 44 leases capacity from the existingHughesNet satellite Internet access system enabling them to provide worldwide services even over water. [" [http://www.dailywireless.org/2007/09/13/aircell-on-virgin-by-2008/ Aircell on Virgin by 2008] ",September 13 2007 ] Row 44 andHughesNet entered into a 15-year contract. [" [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_42_29/ai_n27430456 Row 44 tries to get airline Internet access off ground] ", Los Angeles Business Journal,October 15 2007 ]According to Row 44, their equipment, including an
antenna atop theaircraft , can be installed on anairplane in just twoaircraft overnights and weighs merely 150lb compared toConnexion by Boeing 's 800lb hardware. [" [http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9058598 Southwest, American test in-flight Wi-Fi] ", computerworld.com, [January 23]2008 ]Testing phase
Southwest Airlines andAlaska Airlines will be testing Row 44's services onboard their aircraft onNorth American routes from August 2008 on. [" [http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/148517-2/airlines_get_ready_to_test_fledging_wifi_in_flight.html Airlines Get Ready to Test Fledging Wi-Fi in Flight ] ", pcworld.com,July 16 2008 ] [" [http://www.row44.com/uploads/SWA_Inflight%20Connectivity.pdf Southwest Airlines bringing the internet to the sky via satellite] " Southwest Airlines press release,January 23 2008 ] [" [http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/wifiwimax/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=209903373 Delta To Offer Wi-Fi Across Its U.S. Fleet] " Information Week,August 5 2008 ] [" [http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/05/news/companies/airlines_wifi/?postversion=2008080512 Airlines going Wi-Fi] ", cnnmoney.com, [August 5]2008 ] Alaska Airlines is said to launch the service by the end of 2009 depending on the outcome of the testing. [" [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119008192668230783.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Alaska Air Tests Satellite Web Access ] ", The Wall Street Journal,September 18 2007 ]ee also
*
Aircell
*OnAir
*Panasonic Avionics
*Connexion by Boeing References
External Links
* [http://www.row44.com/ "Row 44" official web site]
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