Coming soon: Airline WiFi that actually works

Air travel and glitch-free internet access are often considered mutually exclusive, thanks to the technical difficulties associated with making WiFi work at 40,000 feet. For the airlines, a satisfying online experience is even more elusive. The hardware, software, maintenance and inability to easily switch service providers combine for a very expensive headache. But there may be some good news on the horizon - a new era of ground-quality internet connectivity that could save carriers billions of dollars. The Seamless Air Alliance, a non-profit group of 30 companies, says its new tech architecture will make in-flight connectivity systems modular, with open interfaces and components that can easily be swapped out. The alliance wants to introduce a global standard, using protocols derived from the cellular and WiFi industries. <br/>