Internet content and technology provider ScreamingMedia says it reached a deal with Boeing, the world's largest commercial aircraft maker, to provide passengers with broadband access services, including Internet and e-mail, while they fly.
"We are licensing our core software, the SiteWare, which will sit on the ground in the Boeing Connection content center," said ScreamingMedia Chief Executive Mr Kevin Clark.
He said the deal was the largest content and licensing contract ever for ScreamingMedia, although he did not provide financial terms. Previously, a similar agreement with AT&T, the biggest U.S. long-distance and cable TV company, had been ScreamingMedia's biggest deal.
The new service, called 'Connexion by Boeing', will be available for commercial airlines in late 2001 or early 2002, Mr Clark said, although a service is already running in prototype in some business jets. Passengers will pay a fee for the service but the amount was not detailed.
"For example, when a passenger gets on a plane from Los Angeles to New York, he'll get all the information about the weather, where to go, concerts," said Mr Clark. He said no comparable service exists.