Nuts About Southwest

I have mixed feelings on this.

Will Southwest be doing any type of filtering to restrict what a customer can do online? ie, if VOIP programs are allowed to be used, this could make a very long flight......

Hi Aaron,
Thanks for sharing your concerns. Keep in mind that this is a test, and I am sure we will learn dos and don'ts from it. Also, if VOIP requires the use of a cellphone, cell phones are still prohibited during flight. If it requires a microphone directly into the computer, that will be one of the learning lessons we take home. Another thing has to do with speakers, not just on phone service but any web site with sound. Will we require headphones or expect folks to remember their neighbors. We will just have to wait and see how things go.
Brian

Thank you.

I am not familiar with the details but I want your planners to know I am willing to pay an additional fee to have 'premium access' to maintain high speed access versus being slowed by heavy use on the flight.

The one additional need I have is for better battery life for my laptop or a plug-in on your longer flights. Any help there?

Again - Thanks - this will be a very valuable service for me.

hey Chuck,
Thanks for the comment. I am far from being a techie, but on today's earning call, our Sr. VP of Marketing, Dave Ridley, explained why we are going with a satellite-based system. He said that many of the current land-based systems were designed for laptops only and don't take into account devices like BlackBerrys. The satellite system offers not only enough bandwidth to accommodate what's out there now, it has room to grow.
Brian

Oh, I honestly don't know about plug-ins onboard the aircraft. Most of our gate areas have been redisgned with charging stations however.

Thanks Brian.
When I refer to VOIP, I'm referring to programs such as Skype, which allow people to communicate via their computer. I personally would like to see these type of services prohibited, not so much from a bandwidth point, but more from a "love thy neighbor" point. If you get a plane full of people all on their headsets talking to people, it makes for a very loud plane.

I would also ask about web filters... Unfortunately, some people don't understand what is "public appropriate" and I would hate to see the FA who would have to ask the customer to stop viewing certain material.

I am willing to wait and see once the service is introduced. I'm also waiting to see what the pricing points will be.

I would make one recommendation for the Wi-fi rollout... Do it quickly! Not only for the competitive advantage or for the investors, but for the customers...

We're chomping at the bit to get it!

Hey Brian,

Any word on what this service will cost to those of us flying? Is it going to be free and just rolled into the cost of the ticket or will it being per segment costs? I am sure all your tests will include WTP (willingness to pay, see I did learn something in econ) and all that stuff, but I was just wondering if you guys had a ball park figure?

Thanks,
Kevin

Will the actual network management be handled by SWA or Row 44? Will FAs be trained to provide tech support (only half joking)? Will some sort of traffic management be employed to prevent the available bandwidth from being saturated with p2p, video, or malicious traffic such as worms?

[...] were intrigued when Southwest announced it will be testing inflight internet access hopefully this summer on four aircraft. The service, in [...]

This is GREAT News... Congrats to SWA for keeping not only up to date, but ahead of everyone else on so many things. The Upper Minds at SWA definetly continue to think "Out Side The Box".

Keep up the great work...

And power at the seats would be another great mod for the AirCraft... I would also like to cast in a vote for that one.