Skype tested on jets

A VoIP aircraft antenna has been tested successfully by Starling, a firm in Yoqneam, Israel, according to reports. Starling specializes in low-profile, broadband antennas for aircraft.

Starling's Mijet antenna was mounted on the fuselage of a Boeing 737 and tested with simultaneous video conference calls, Skype calls, downloads, emails and Web searches, according to a release from the company. The comms were bounced via Israel's Amos communications satellite, with download rates of more than 20 Mbps (compared to 12 Mbps for "fast" U.S. landlocked broadband) and uploads of 5 Mbps.

Panasonic Avionics, the Lake Forest, Calif., Matsushita division specializing in in-flight entertainment, is working with Starling to offer airborne triple-play of 'Net access, voice and even IPTV. A report in IFEXpress indicates Quantas is interested.

For More:
- Starling's official announcement is here
- The report from IFEXpress is here

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