JetBlue begins test of in-flight email, adds more TV channels

JetBlue Airways this week plans to begin in-flight tests on one aircraft of its new e-mail and messaging service. The service, offered free to passengers, provides email and instant messaging access to WiFi-equipped laptop users with Yahoo accounts, and email service for any type of account to persons with BlackBerry 8820s or BlackBerry Curve 8320s (BlackBerry’s two WiFi models). JetBlue’s vendor for the service is its own LiveTV subsidiary. The service does not permit Web browsing. Media representatives who went on a special demo flight last week reported some glitches in the service, which uses air-to-ground links instead of satellites. This can lead to dropped connections when the signal switches from one ground tower to another. But a JetBlue representative said software fixes were in the works.

Meanwhile, JetBlue said it is expanding its in-flight DirecTV programming this month with the addition of four more channels from Turner Broadcasting – including Cartoon Network, TBS, TNT and CNN – as well as the Big Ten Network, ESPNU. The latter is ideal for college sports junkies. “ESPNU features extensive college sports programming and exclusive live event coverage from more than 20 Division I conferences, and showcases NCAA championship coverage and sports from each of the three collegiate seasons, as well as encore presentations from ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Regional Television college sports programming,” JetBlue said.