Internet, Wifi | featured news

U.S. federal telecommunications regulators are pushing ahead with efforts to bring faster Internet service to commercial and private airline flights. The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday started deliberations on a proposal that would offer a new type of in-flight broadband service promising U.S. fliers higher Wi-Fi speeds and better connections.

Airline passengers can already get online 30,000 feet over Oklahoma. Soon U.S. airlines will offer Internet connections over the ocean, too. United, Delta, and American — the nation's three biggest airlines — said Wednesday that they're within weeks of having their first international flights with Internet service.

Google (GOOG) is building a network of glass right to people's houses. But some broadband experts believe that Google is spending too much money to build the ultimately money-losing network. Moreover, consumers can get similar network speeds through DSL and WiFi -- with a much lower investment.

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport reached an agreement with AT&T to provide free Wi-Fi to all visitors at the airport’s five terminals, totaling more than six million square feet of space.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. is about to take on Delta, Virgin America and JetBlue in a major way. Despite being later than some to the in-flight Wi-Fi game, the merged United and Continental partnership will soon sprout internet in the skies. Panasonic Avionics Corporation has been chosen to provide Wi-Fi connectivity on more than 300 United Airlines and Continental Airlines mainline aircraft beginning in mid-2012. Panasonic's Ku-band satellite technology offers faster speed than air-to-ground technology (ATG) and will provide connectivity on flights worldwide. The system will also enable wireless streaming of video content.

President Barack Obama will outline his plan on Thursday for expanding high speed wireless Internet service to 98 percent of Americans while reducing the U.S. deficit by $9.6 billion over the next ten years.

Who says nothing's free on planes anymore?

Many coffee shops try to discourage people from buying a cup of coffee and then lingering for hours to use the free wireless Internet access. Starbucks, meanwhile, is encouraging them to stay as long as they want.

Google says it has inadvertently scooped up snippets of people's online activities broadcast over unprotected Wi-Fi networks during the past four years.

Apple is acknowledging complaints that its new iPad computer has trouble connecting to the Internet.