“Speed… the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the humble Bluetooth dongle. Its continuing mission to transfer data faster…”

…up to 21 Mbps faster than its current 3 Mbps speed!

So how do you get Bluetooth to 24 Mbps?

Apparently, devices with both Bluetooth 3.0 and 802.11 Wi-Fi capabilities will first pair with each other over Bluetooth. If the data to be transferred is bulky enough, the devices will automatically switch over to the faster Wi-Fi protocol to transfer data. If not, data transfer will be performed using the Bluetooth protocol.

An optimal combination of power management and performance!

To quote Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG:

“This is the wireless technology equivalent of ‘low hanging fruit’. What we’re doing is taking classic Bluetooth connections – using Bluetooth protocols, profiles, security and other architectural elements – and allowing it to jump on top of the already present 802.11 radio, when necessary, to send bulky entertainment data, faster.”

Several airlines are installing Wi-Fi on their planes to allow travelers to connect to the Internet, in-flight.

The idea of in-flight Internet access has been around since a number of years. Initial implementations of the feature simply involved having a web-server with a very very large cache of web pages – a simulated Internet experience, if you will.

But this is LIVE Internet – the real deal! And you get to access it wirelessly, from the comfort of your laptop.

So, is it time to add the clickety-clackety of keyboards to the already present melange of in-flight sounds?

Perhaps not.

While struggling airlines might view the service as a way to gain an edge in attracting passengers (and also as a new source of revenue) in-flight Internet may take some time to get its wheels off the ground.

This is what Daryl Schoolar, from In-Stat (a technology research firm in Scottsdale, Ariz) has to say:

“Wi-Fi in the air is not going to be like what you get in your house. It’s going to be slower than what you’re used to and movies may appear shaky.”

His research shows that people will pay for WiFi when they have no other way to log onto the Internet.

“Airplanes have very captive audiences. Some people think it’s OK to pay $7 for a Budweiser on the airplane when they can get the same beer for a dollar at a convenience store. They are willing to adjust their expectations.”

There are two main technologies being used – satellite-based and ground-based.

While the satellite-based variant one is a no-brainer, the ground-based variant is interesting – Two antennas (under the plane) capture signals from cell towers on the ground, making the plane a moving Wi-Fi hot-spot!

A number of American airlines are currently in the race to implement in-flight Internet: Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Virgin America, American Airlines and United Airlines.

Standard rates: $7.95 (hand-held), $9.95 (laptop, 3 hour or lesser short haul flight) and $12.95 (laptop, long haul flight).