Southwest Airlines is first to test satellite Wi-Fi technology

However, Southwest will be using different technology than most other U.S. airlines, and that is where the similarity stops.

The Dallas-based company said it will be the first major airline to test satellite technology on commercial aircraft to supply passengers with Wi-Fi Web connectivity. However, cellular services won't work with the system, Southwest warned.

The carrier is teaming up with 'Row 44' and has equipped at least one of its aircraft with the new satellite technology.

Three additional aircraft are scheduled to be equipped next month. The Wi-Fi service will be free to travelers during the test period. As is always the case on commercial aircraft, use of the new technology must be fully approved by the FCC and the FAA.

Overall, Southwest passengers that board a WiFi enabled aircraft will be greeted with placards and instruction sheets. The carrier is also partnering with Yahoo to provide an in-flight homepage with daily programming of local news and various information.

Yahoo's customized homepage will also include a flight tracker where passengers will be able to follow the plane’s path and view points of interest along the travelled route.

Dave Ridley, vice-president of Southwest's marketing division says “as a whole, Internet connectivity has been very high on our list of priorities and for quite some time. We believe the aircraft-to-satellite technology is the most robust solution in the industry, and we look forward to the feedback from our passengers.”

'Row 44' CEO John Guidon added that his company will provide Southwest Airlines with its high-speed WiFi broadband service.

The budget carrier is the first major domestic airline not to sign up with Aircell.

Aircell offers an air-to-ground broadband system that utilizes traditional mobile phone towers. The company owns the spectrum that was previously used by Verizon Wireless’ Airfone division.

American Airlines was the first airline to offer in-flight WiFi Internet access to its customers using Aircell’s Gogo network in August of 2008.

Aircell has since sold new agreements with Virgin America, Air Canada, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

Aircell is forecasting that about two-thousand commercial aircraft will be equipped with its Gogo Wi-Fi Internet service by the end of 2009.