Air Transport

An in-flight internet offering developed to take advantage of Inmarsat's higher-bandwidth aeronautical service SwiftBroadband is expected to be fully completed by Arinc in November.

Dubbed Oi for Onboard Internet, Arinc's latest solution for passenger communication services uses a combination of cached and live content and data to offer news, sports, radio bulletins, web browsing, email, instant messenger, podcasts and VPN access.

The most trafficked internet sites will be offered. Arinc partner Inflight Productions is brokering agreements with these sites.

However airlines will be able to configure the offering to meet their own individual requirements, says Colette Parks, satellite applications programme director, aviation solutions for Arinc.

Passengers will be able to access Oi via personal laptops as well as WAP-enabled personal electronic devices. Arinc is also working with in-flight entertainment platform makers to offer Oi through seatback entertainment systems. Credit card information will be required for passengers to access chargeable services.