AirCell has completed a test flight demonstrating its high speed wireless Internet solution for commercial airlines.  Installed in the aircraft are WiFi hotspots which communicate with users’ personal devices such as laptops and PDAs.  The system then relays the traffic to ground-based network.

The air-to-ground link provides both faster data speeds and is much cheaper than satellite-based systems.  Passengers on the flight were able to check e-mail, surf the Web, watch streaming video and make and receive VoIP phone calls.

AirCell also offers the option of adding picocells to the system which relay cell phone calls (GSM and CDMA) to the ground, allowing passengers to use their personal phones to make and receive calls.

The system is targeted for deployment in 2007.