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AirCell Announces Inflight Internet Access Partnership;
Selects Formation, Inc. as Service Management Provider
New System to be Part of AirCell’s System to
Deliver Inflight Broadband Connectivity Service Over U.S.
Moorestown, NJ (November 13, 2007)…AirCell, the leading
wireless data and voice communications provider in aviation, announced
today it has partnered with Formation, Inc. (Formation) to incorporate
critical avionic hardware components in the AirCell Broadband System.
Formation, which is based in Moorestown, NJ, has developed two
critical hardware components of AirCell’s Broadband System that will
help to deliver passengers’ inflight Internet connectivity. The
hardware includes AirCell’s Central Processor Unit (ACPU) and the
custom built Cabin Wireless Access Point (CWAP).
The CWAP provides 802.11a and 802.11b/g radios to be used by
passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as laptops and smartphones.
A typical commercial aircraft configuration would include one ACPU and
two CWAPs per plane, in addition to other hardware including
air-to-ground modem and antennas, to provide Internet connectivity to
passengers. AirCell will use Formation’s hardware in combination with
the company’s own unique air-to-ground technology, which transmits and
receives data between the ground and the aircraft at broadband speed,
to enable high speed in-flight broadband Internet service.
“Our strategy is to work
with some of the leading suppliers of mobile communications
technology,” said Anand Chari, Vice President, AirCell Broadband
System Engineering. “Formation provides the right combination of
market knowledge and technological competitiveness to help AirCell
reach our goal of providing inflight Internet access to passengers in
2008.”
“Formation has developed
more than 1,600 avionics class servers and 110,000 other avionic
products for the top OEMs in the aircraft industry. This experience,
coupled with our wireless technology innovation, made a partnership
with AirCell a natural fit,” said R. Nim Evatt, Formation’s CEO. “To
put it mildly, we are thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking
initiative.”
AirCell will begin testing
Formation’s components as part of partnerships with American Airlines
and Virgin America in early 2008. AirCell’s service will allow
passengers to check e-mail, surf the Web, tap into an office network
and stay current on the latest news, using either inflight
entertainment systems or their own Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, smartphones,
PDAs, and portable gaming systems - while in flight.
About AirCell
AirCell is the leader in global airborne telecommunications for the
Commercial and Business Aviation markets. The winner of the FCC’s
exclusive broadband frequency license in 2006, AirCell is pioneering a
revolutionary new wireless broadband system for North America.
AirCell broadband system will include robust Wi-Fi hotspots that
enable airline passengers to surf the Internet, use e-mail, and log on
to their corporate VPN’s using their personal Wi-Fi-equipped devices.
The system will also offer airline operational communications
capabilities and provide a path to a wealth of future cabin services.
Set for introduction in 2008, the new broadband service will also be
available to business aircraft operators, offering a similar set of
features.
AirCell (www.AirCell.com)
has facilities in Louisville, Colorado, and Itasca, Illinois, USA.
About Formation, Inc.
Formation, Inc. of Moorestown, NJ, USA designs and manufactures
hardware and software products and provides related engineering
services for the defense, aviation, data communications and
transportation industries. Products include ToughDisk Rugged Hard
Disks, Advanced Integrated Recorders, avionics-class servers, rugged
wired and wireless networks. For information visit www.formation.com
or call +1 856.234.5020.
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Contact: Paul Kuphal at +1
(856) 380-2912 or
paulk@formation.com.
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