iPass wants to become one pass for your internet gateway, including up on the clouds

It’s a no brainer for business men (& women) or any frequent flyers, that paying US$30 for an internet connection per flight is way too much. And that’s why the in-flight broadband connection called Connexion by Boeing, had been plugged off back in 2006.

But how about $9.95 per flight sounds to you? Or only $12.95 for all longer flights? If your pupil is widening in disbelief, and your heart is racing to imagine the leisure to enjoy broadband internet connection while you’re on an airplane; then AirCell has struck gold with its newest product service called Gogo. Although the name sounds exactly like a name of fruit drinks long ago, here at my home country; Indonesia. Well, Gogo doesn't offer you a drink but instead it promises you to be connected to the net, through its in-flight WiFi hotspots. That means, every laptops and smartphones (too bad Treo & Centro don’t have it yet) that have 802.11a/b/g connection, will be able to access Gogo’s WiFi network.

There are some limitations though, no cellular and VoIP voice calls allowed. While it’s strange enough, since Gogo service is using a cellular connection that’s communicating with ground cellular towers. But it’s a break through enough for now, since cheap in-flight broadband access is still very rare these days. You can enjoy Gogo’s offering in American Airlines and Virgin America this year, which according to Glenn Fleishman (PC World) it could even in a matter of weeks.

And what does Gogo got to do with iPass, like the title of this blog? Well, apparently iPass has made a deal with Aircell to include Gogo into its service offering for around 1 million iPass users at more than 3,500 companies around the world (says iPass). For you who don’t know what iPass is; it’s a mobile service consolidator that provides service to corporations to distribute their costs for metered service by minute, day, or month. iPass’ cheapest offering plan for individual travelers starts at $29.95 per month, and $44.95 for the worldwide plan. All of iPass customers will have access for WiFi, dial-up & Ethernet (typically in hotel rooms) at more than 100,000 locations around the world; as well as 3G services in many areas at about 160 available countries.

While according to Stephen Lawson (PCW Business Center); iPass subscribers will be able to sign on to Gogo using their iPass accounts, where the costs will be covered under the monthly iPass charge. But that’s on the contrary to what iPass spokesperson has said about the prices haven’t been set, and it’s expected that an iPass subscriber wouldn’t pay additional fees to use the service… We’ll have to wait until Gogo has been launched officially, to know the exact prices and plans.

Meanwhile you’re eagerly waiting in high elevation, why don’t you enjoy Gogo’s intro at their web site. It’s very “intoxicating”! ;-D (and …pssst, don’t forget to turn up the volume first!)

[blogged with my Treo 750v]