Customers of NTT DoCoMo’s Mzone wireless LAN
comforts of coach, thanks to a roaming agreement between the Tokyo, Japan-based mobile communications
company and Connexion by Boeing.
Connexion by Boeing, a unit of the Boeing Company, provides a secure Internet connection at broadband speeds
to customers. Planes equipped with the service have either an Ethernet LAN or a wireless 802.11b
functions they do on land, including send and receive e-mail, browse the Web and access company intranets for business pleasure.
The agreement, which the companies outlined last April in a memorandum of understanding, links the
two networks, thereby allowing Mzone users to surf while being signed on to their accounts. To sign on, users need only to enter their username and password at the Connexion Web site, and the charges will
appear on their Mzone bills.
Boeing has agreements with such carriers as Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines System,
Japan Airlines, ANA and Kingdom Holding Co. to equip Connexion by Boeing. And Singapore Airlines, China Airlines,
Korean Air and Asiana have announced their intent to install the service.
Set to begin on Oct. 22, the service will cost Mzone users a flat rate determined by the length of the flight.
Less than three hours will run users $17 (1,900 yen); between three and six hours is $23 (2,500 yen);
and more than six hours is $33 (3,700 yen).
