Continues Expansion of "Kiteline" Service, Providing Free In-flight
Email and Messaging for Passengers of Jetblue Airways,
Continental Airlines and Frontier Airlines
Plans to Continue Support and Service to General Aviation Market
With New Radio
MELBOURNE, Fla., June 9, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- LiveTV LLC, the world's leading provider of live in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems for commercial airlines, announced today it has reached an agreement to purchase the Verizon Airfone network, a move that will anchor the company's in-flight email and messaging platform.
LiveTV plans to enhance the Airfone network to expand its "Kiteline" service -- an in-flight email and messaging service targeted at the commercial aviation market. To develop and launch its Kiteline service, LiveTV purchased 1 MHz of Air-to-Ground spectrum from the FCC in June 2006, and in December 2007 launched an email and messaging service on "BetaBlue," JetBlue Airways' first A320 aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi access points and an air-to-ground antenna and radio. Using the Airfone network of base stations, BetaBlue became the first commercial aircraft to offer free in-flight connectivity in the U.S. BetaBlue continues to utilize the Airfone network to provide airborne connectivity to passengers every day, transferring more than 100,000 messages to-date.
Since the launch of JetBlue's BetaBlue aircraft, both Continental Airlines and Frontier Airlines have committed to deploying LiveTV's Kiteline product across significant portions of their fleet when the service becomes commercially available. Both airlines plan to offer Kiteline as a free service to all passengers.
In addition to supporting its commercial platform, LiveTV plans to provide ongoing support and product enhancements to the General Aviation market. Planned product enhancements include a next-generation radio supporting both voice and data services. The Airfone network, comprised of 100 base stations stretching across the continental U.S., currently supports airborne communication services for over 2,400 Magnastar(r) customers in the General Aviation market. Verizon will maintain network operations until December 31, 2008 after which LiveTV will take over operations on January 1, 2009. Current Magnastar customers will have no interruption in their service.
"Airfone was the pioneer of in-flight connectivity," said Nate Quigley, LiveTV CEO. "We look forward to building upon the foundation they have laid to bring email and messaging to all air travelers."
"Airfone is the industry leader in in-flight communications. We are pleased we can continue to support our existing valued General Aviation customers, and we are excited to play a role in LiveTV's efforts to bring email and messaging services to commercial airline passengers," said Michael Kuehn, Vice President Marketing and Sales of Verizon Airfone.
About LiveTV
LiveTV is the world's leading provider of live in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems for commercial airlines. Founded in 1998 in Melbourne, Florida, LiveTV has installation and maintenance locations around the world to support the more than 500 aircraft equipped with its products. Current customers include Continental, JetBlue, Frontier, AirTran, ExpressJet, Air One, Virgin Blue and WestJet. For a full listing of products and partners, or for more information, please visit www.livetv.net. LiveTV is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JetBlue Airways.
The LiveTV company logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5130
About Verizon Airfone
Verizon Airfone, a subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc., has been leading the inflight communications industry for 24 years. Currently serving the General Aviation market, Verizon Airfone was the first to provide passengers with wireless roaming, email, instant messaging, text messaging and voice services.