American offer inflight internet

American Airlines have begun a trial of their new inflight internet service.

The trial is set to last up to six months on American's 15-strong fleet of 767-200s, flying between New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami.

Passengers with laptops that have wifi, plus PDAs and smartphones, can log on to the onboard 'Gogo' wireless network, at a cost of £7 (US$12.95) per flight, payable using a credit cards. Mobile phone and VoIP services will not be available, because they are against American's policy.

The Gogo system uses Aircell's air-to-ground (ATG) network of 92 cellular towers across continental America, built after it successfully won an FCC licence in 2006.

Previously airlines have offered inflight internet via Satellite, including Lufthansa which equipped it's fleet with a system called Connexion (made by Boeing). ANA, Japan Airlines, and SAS also signed on to the service. It was switched off in 2006 following poor sales.