I am currently writing this entry on American flight 177, a non-stop from JFK to SFO on a 767-200, using the new GOGO inflight wi-fi service that launched today. It costs only $12.95 for the entire flight. There were people giving out free water at JFK terminal 8 to promote the service, and there supposedly are two GOGO reps on board. I haven’t seen the GOGO reps but I don’t need them – everything is working great. It’s very fast. I did a bandwidth test and it clocked in at 1036 kbps download and 231 kbps upload speed.
As for VoIP, the service is heavily firewalled, and they are also using a proxy server with NAT, so most SIP-based softphones will not work at all. I am able to place and receive Toktumi calls and Skype calls because they don't use SIP, although they are basically unusable for two way conversation because of distortion. They say that VoIP has been blocked, so even without firewall issues they may be doing something to distort audio. I was able to listen to my cell phone voicemail by calling my cell phone from Toktumi, however, so it sort of works one way.
All I can say is, thank God VoIP doesn't work!! What a nightmare that would be to listen to someone yapping for 5 hours cross-country. Even without VoIP, I have mixed feelings about this! Flights have become pretty much the last sanctuary from email and communications, and I often enjoy the fact that I can’t reach anyone and can’t be reached. The only private moment left in this world. Now whenever I fly, I’ll be wracked with guilt if I don’t work!
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