Smartphone Connectivity Coming To A Plane Near You

Smartphones may become more integrated into the airline cabin but not for voice. Ireland-based Airvod Entertainment is teaming with Germany’s TriaGnoSys to build a solution that distributes Inflight Entertainment (IFE) content to seat-back screens and passengers’ own smartphones, tablets and laptops as well as provides inflight connectivity for live updates.??

Airvod’s Seatcentric solution gives each passenger a self-contained entertainment and communications center at each seat. TriaGnoSys’ AeroBTS+ will collaborate on aspects of the airborne network to enable the wireless distribution of content and inflight connectivity that will be incorporated into Seatcentric system. This collaboration, the partners say, means airlines will be able to provide updates during flights.? ?

According to Airvod CEO Terry Bonar, “TriaGnoSys offers Airvod a new dimension in terms of capability and progression of our operations in this area. It is especially important for us as it ensure that Airvod growing customer base can be guaranteed improved connectivity services and have a future proofed system.?? 

Adds Axel Jahn, managing director at TriaGnoSys, “By working together, TriaGnoSys and Airvod are making IFE simpler for airlines in two key ways. Uploading of content is much more efficient, which saves time. And there are considerable weight savings – wireless is the future. By eliminating cabling and complex networks we reduce the weight of a twin aisle aircraft by over a ton.”

He continues, “Passengers also benefit because they have the choice of using the seat-back screen or their own devices as well as live content updates. And because we are using the latest Wi-Fi technology – 802.11n – performance is the same as a wired system.”?

Here’s more information about the two partners: Airvod Entertainment Ltd claims to be the first company in the world to use the 5.8 GHz frequency for its wireless networks (replacing the industry standard 2.4 GHz), meaning Airvod devices and services can operate without interference from personal electronic devices onboard an aircraft. 

All Airvod Entertainment devices employ Projective Capacitive Active Touch Screen (PACT) technology the company says enables a “seamless, lag-free user experience and utilizes the Controller Area Network (CAN) Bus interface system to provide BITE and real-time analytical data.” ?

TriaGnoSys solutions use satellite, air-to-ground and other radio links to connect communication networks through its cutting-edge mobility routers. TriaGnoSys Research and Development focuses on such mobile communication fields as mobile end-to-end solutions, wireless IFE, next-gen satellite connectivity and cabin/cockpit communication as well as combined navigation and communications technologies.?