In Flight Text Messaging

Welcome to the World of Aviation Communications.

January 2008

Text Messaging on Commercial Jets

Cell phones in flight can be used for a lot more than voice, and one of the fastest growing applications for the mobile devices is in flight text messaging.

As an increasing number of passengers send SMS messages from airline seats, they are providing operational evidence that phones can be used in flight without interfering with communications and navigation equipment. Yet as this market is beginning to show signs of strength, many are asking:

Why is SMS Running Ahead of E-mail and IM on Commercial Airliners?
How will Text Messaging Impact Competitive Positioning among Air Carriers?
How Far Does the International Market have to Grow until U.S. Regulators Feel Pressure from Domestic Technology Suppliers, Passengers, and Airlines?

In addition to forecasts for texting by aircraft type, this report looks at how improving economics and new satellites are allowing the in flight connectivity market to shift from generating headlines to supplying revenue for service providers and airlines alike.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1 The Technologies and The Economics

1.1 Introduction - Why Text Messaging is Running Ahead of E-Mail and IM

1.2 Stop the Press!

1.3 LiveTV and Aircell Will Make Better Use of 800 MHz Spectrum than Airfone

1.4 Lessons from JetConnect

1.5 Headline from 2009 - "U.S. Trails in Aviation Data Services"

1.6 SafeCell and the Wi-Fi Workaround

1.7 No Need to Guess what to Charge

1.8 Why Airlines and Satellite Providers Need each other

1.9 In Flight Texting has been Trialed for the Last Five Years, so What's Different Now?

1.10 Picocell Economics

1.11 In Flight Productivity vs. In Flight Entertainment

1.12 Text Messaging & In Flight Connectivity

Chapter 2 The Forecasts

2.1 Forecasting a Service with Many More Future Users than Current Users

2.2 CRJs & ERJs

2.3 Embraer E-Jets

2.4 A320s

2.5 737s

2.6 DC-9s/MD-80s/717s

2.7 757s

2.8 767s

2.9 787s

2.10 A330s/A340s

2.11 777s

2.12 747s

2.13 A380s

2.14 Totals

Charts and Exhibits
Exhibit 2.1 Text Messages Sent from CRJs/ERJs
Exhibit 2.2 Text Messages Sent from E-170s/E-190s
Exhibit 2.3 Text Messages Sent from A320s
Exhibit 2.4 Text Messages Sent from 737s
Exhibit 2.5 Text Messages Sent from DC9s, MD-80s, & 717s
Exhibit 2.6 Text Messages Sent from 757s
Exhibit 2.7 Text Messages Sent from 767s
Exhibit 2.8 Text Messages Sent from 787s
Exhibit 2.9 Text Messages Sent from A330s/A340s
Exhibit 2.10 A330s/A340s Share of Airline Text Messaging Transmissions
Exhibit 2.11 Text Messages Sent from 777s
Exhibit 2.12 Text Messages Sent from 747s
Exhibit 2.13Text Messages Sent from A380s
Exhibit 2.14 Total Text Messages Sent from Commercial Airliners, 2008-2011
Exhibit 2.15 Total Text Messages Sent from Narrowbody Airliners, 2008-2011
Exhibit 2.16 Total Text Messages Sent from Widebody Airliners, 2008-2011
Exhibit 2.17 Total Text Messages Sent from Airbus Airliners, 2008-2011
Exhibit 2.18 Total Text Messages Sent from Boeing Airliners, 2008-2011
Exhibit 2.19 Total Text Messages Sent from Bombardier and Embraer Airliners, 2008-2011
Exhibit 2.20 Airline Passengers, Text Messages Sent, 2008-2011
Exhibit 2.21 Text Messages 2008-2011, by Aircraft Manufacturer