- Technology builds on success of eXPhone service which is already installed on over 450 aircraft worldwide
Lake Forest, CA | October 19, 2016– Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) and AeroMobile have today announced the global availability of the new 3G eXPhone system. The new technology builds on the success of Panasonic’s eXPhone service, which is already installed on over 450 aircraft across 19 airlines worldwide. Airlines such as Etihad, Cathay Pacific, Aer Lingus, EuroWings, SAS and Air Serbia have already started to install the 3G technology.
The announcement follows increasing airline adoption of the eXPhone platform and increased customer demand for on-board mobile connectivity. The newly launched 3G technology delivers a richer and faster passenger experience and enables access to a greater number of applications.
The inflight 3G network, which is operated over Panasonic’s eXConnect service, enables a quality and range of services much closer to those experienced on the ground. Faster browsing, bigger attachments, quicker posts, more responsive apps and gaming, all lead to a better connected cabin experience taking travel into a new era.
David Bruner, Vice President of Global Communications Services, Panasonic Avionics Corporation comments: “Our continued partnership with AeroMobile is testament to the eXPhone platform and how it enables airlines to offer mobile connectivity in the aircraft cabin that is easy and simple to connect to and use.
“The technology’s continued success demonstrates how Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity are totally complimentary services, consistently doubling the number of connected users in the cabin and revenue opportunities for the airline.”
Kevin Rogers, Chief Executive Officer at AeroMobile adds: “Passengers carry different devices, have different connectivity needs and have different payment preferences. Passengers each have their own “connected world.”
“We are all used to choice on the ground – choice between mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity – and we are proud that our partnership with Panasonic continues to enable passengers to access different services at different times and pay in different ways.”
LAKE FOREST, Calif., Feb. 5 / — Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), a world leading in-flight entertainment and communication (IFEC) solutions provider and AeroMobile, Panasonic’s chosen in-flight mobile technology supplier, today announced that they have been selected by Turkish Airlines, a Star Alliance Member, to supply the carrier with Panasonic’s eX2 In-Flight Entertainment and Global Communications Suite product.
Panasonic offers airlines complete, integrated solutions for in-flight entertainment and connectivity. With the installation of Panasonic’s advanced eX2 In-Flight Entertainment and Global Communications Suite, Turkish Airlines’ passengers will have a full complement of in-flight entertainment and communication options available at their fingertips.
Passengers will be able to choose from a large selection of movies, television programs, music and advanced applications including:
• eXConnect: Global, true broadband connectivity to support a wide range of passenger and crew applications, such as internet access, corporate VPN, voice, data, and the ability to monitor and transmit airline operational data in real time
• eXPhone: Award-winning in-flight mobile phone service to make voice calls, send SMS text messages, or utilize data services in-flight, virtually anywhere in the world
• The Panasonic Airborne Television Network: A proprietary, dedicated network broadcasting live news, sports, financial information and special events.
Panasonic’s eX2 and Global Communications Suite solutions are being fitted on the airline’s fleet of 12 Boeing 777-300ERs and 10 Airbus A330-300 aircraft. The first aircraft is due to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2010.
Temel Kotil, President and Chief Executive Officer of Turkish Airlines, said, “We are delighted to be bringing the latest, state-of-the-art technology to our customers. Panasonic’s eX2 and Global Communications Suite will give us the ability tailor our passengers’ experiences with live broadcast TV, Wi-Fi access for laptops and PDAs, as well as the use of mobile phones.”
Since 2007 the in-flight mobile connectivity technology has been exceptionally well-received. Over one million airline passengers have now used AeroMobile services since inception. On some flights, passenger adoption rates are exceeding 40%.
“We are extremely pleased with Turkish Airlines’ selection of Panasonic’s eX2 and Global Communications Suite system for their aircraft,” said Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. “With this decision, Turkish Airlines will be a leader in offering its passengers an integrated in-flight entertainment and communication system that truly raises the bar for in-flight experiences. We couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the start of 2010 than to proudly announce Turkish Airlines as our newest customer for in-flight entertainment, connectivity and mobile phone services.”
Bjorn-Taale Sandberg, Chief Executive Officer of AeroMobile, said, “We are delighted to have been chosen by Turkish Airlines as a key provider in the modernisation of their fleet. This selection once again underlines that AeroMobile is the supplier of choice for the flag-carrying airlines of the world, and demonstrates the versatility and flexibility of our technology in being able to operate over Panasonic’s Ku band system.”
In 2008, Panasonic and AeroMobile won the “Best Achievement in Technology 2008” award for eXPhone from the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA).
LAKE FOREST, California – 05 February 2010 – Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the world leader in state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment and communication (IFEC) systems, today announced it is selected as an IFEC provider for the Airbus A350 XWB.
The contract between Airbus and Panasonic was signed at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France on February 4, 2010 by Klaus Richter, EVP of Procurement at Airbus and Paul Margis, CEO at Panasonic Avionics Corporation.
Panasonic’s advanced IFEC solutions enable airlines to easily tailor the passenger experience. Along with full-cabin audio and video on demand (AVOD), passengers will be able to choose from a large selection of movies, television programs, music and advanced applications including:
eXPhone – In-flight mobile phones service
eXConnect – Full internet access with corporate VPN support over true broadband
Panasonic Airborne Television Network – Global television solution broadcasting live news and sports
Panasonic also offers airline specific services such as onboard advertising and IFEC usage statistic monitoring, both of which are accessible by airlines though Panasonic’s web-based PAXUS data analysis tool.
“We are proud to extend our relationship with Airbus and be selected to install our in-flight entertainment and communications system equipment on the Airbus A350 XWB flight test aircraft MSN002,” said Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer at Panasonic Avionics Corporation. “As an IFE & Cabin Communications supplier on the Airbus A350 XWB, even more passengers will be able to experience the next generation passenger experience as these new airplanes enter service.”
01 April 2009 – Aeromobile, the award-winning provider of in-flight mobile phone services, is demonstrating the benefits of its partnership with Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the world leader in state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment and communication (IFE) systems, at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo.
Work by the two companies has led to the integration of the AeroMobile system with Panasonic’s X Series IFE platform. Known as the eXPhone, the system allows airlines to incorporate in-flight mobile technology within the Panasonic IFE system, saving investment costs and aircraft weight.
Panasonic is offering eXPhone as part of their Global Communications Suite, or as a stand-alone product.
Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, said: “Our objective has been to offer a flexible, scalable product that integrates in-flight mobile technology into our IFE systems. Airlines are starting to see the benefits of this, both in terms of cost and convenience.”
AeroMobile’s relationship with Panasonic has been forged in successful in-service operations with Qantas, Emirates and Malaysia Airlines. Later this year, V Australia will roll out the eXPhone service on its trans-Pacific routes.
AeroMobile CEO, Bjorn-Taale Sandberg, said: “Our relationship with Panasonic unites the world’s largest IFE provider with one of the world’s largest telecom providers – our majority shareholder Telenor – enabling us to provide a genuine enhancement to airline IFE solutions.
“A number of airlines have already expressed strong interest in eXPhone, and we hope to be able to announce further details shortly.”
About AeroMobile
AeroMobile Limited is a UK-based company which is majority owned by Telenor ASA. Since 2003, it has been pursuing the objective of developing the safe use of passengers own mobile phones and PDAs in response to market demands.
AeroMobile is the first in-flight mobile technology to be commercially available and first flew in June 2005 on Boeing’s 777-200LR ‘Worldliner’ demonstrator aircraft. It was subsequently trialled with Qantas on over 1,000 domestic Australian flights in 2007, when GSM text messaging and GPRS data services were offered to its passengers.
In March 2008, the AeroMobile system made possible the first authorised in-flight calls on a commercial flight with launch customer Emirates. Since that time, over 160,000 Emirates passengers have used AeroMobile, and it is now available on 32 aircraft – a quarter of the airline’s fleet.
AeroMobile is also in service with Malaysian Airlines, and will be rolled out on V Australia aircraft later this year.
AeroMobile is teamed with Panasonic Avionics Corporation, the Panasonic’s market-leading in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems provider, to offer the AeroMobile aircraft technology under the eXPhone brand as an integral part of Panasonic’s IFE systems. The AeroMobile system uses existing Inmarsat satellite communications systems installed on commercial aircraft, and these will be upgraded at the earliest opportunity to Inmarsat’s latest SwiftBroadband service providing further features and capabilities such as GPRS mobile data services
In September 2008, AeroMobile won the “Best Achievement in Technology 2008” award from the World Airline Entertainment Association (WAEA).
More information may be found at www.aeromobile.net
Inflight connectivity is about getting data to and from a passenger’s laptop, or getting their voice to the right ear, wherever that might be. The technology behind it may not be interesting to passengers, but it is technological developments, such as TriaGnoSys’ new GSM roaming solution, that drive increased efficiencies, reduce costs and thereby enable airlines to offer more connectivity to more people.”