Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


0

Airplane WiFi Poses Sticky Situation

Crammed together passengers may not like neighbor's browsing material

Share

(Newser) – Airlines getting ready to offer Internet access are grappling with how to enforce netiquette at 33K feet. "We think decency and good sense and normal behavior will prevail," said the CEO of one service. If it's not porn or violent images, its annoying ringtones and loud conversations that can get in the way of a polite flying experience.

But some airlines aren't willing to rely simply on passenger discretion, and are blocking Internet phone calls; others are turning to filters to keep content appropriate. "Airlines have to be sensitive to the fact that customers are (seated) close together and may be able to see each other's PC screens," says Internet co-inventor Vincent Cerf. "More to the point, young people are often aboard the plane."

A plane takes off from Quito's airport as an Iberia jetliner sits at one side of Quito's airport tarmac on Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, either waiting to be removed or repaired. The airplane that skidded off the runway last Nov. 9, without reporting any injures, has become an attraction to...
A plane takes off from Quito's airport as an Iberia jetliner sits at one side of Quito's airport tarmac on Friday, Nov. 16, 2007, either waiting to be removed or repaired. The airplane that skidded off...   (Associated Press)
A Boeing 737-500 airplane of the German airline Lufthansa takes off from the Duesseldorf International airport in an Oct. 14, 2003 file photo. German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007 it is buying a 19 percent stake in U.S. discount airline JetBlue Airways Corp., its first...
A Boeing 737-500 airplane of the German airline Lufthansa takes off from the Duesseldorf International airport in an Oct. 14, 2003 file photo. German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG said Thursday, Dec....   (Associated Press)
A United Airlines airplane is shown at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif. this May 8, 2006 file photo.  United Airlines intends to expand about 15 percent internationally over the next three years but has no interest in increasing its domestic operations, a senior executive of the carrier said...
A United Airlines airplane is shown at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank, Calif. this May 8, 2006 file photo. United Airlines intends to expand about 15 percent internationally over the next three years...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
0 comments
VIEWING:
 
LEAVE A
COMMENT
Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.