Google has subsidized the cost of Wi-Fi Internet access in airport terminals in the past, and we're pleased to see this year they're sponsoring free inflight Wi-Fi for the holiday season. As Matthew also reported, the company has announced that the Google Chrome web browser will offer free Gogo Inflight Internet service on domestic AirTran, Delta, and Virgin America flights from November 20th through January 2nd.
You've seen that I love Gogo Inflight Internet when it's discounted, and "free" is an awfully attractive discount price! My only concern is that if everyone fires up their laptops, iPads, and smartphones on the plane, it won't end up being a good Internet experience for anyone. The equipment's capacity is provisioned assuming a handful of users springing for the service per flight, so it should be interesting to see how it does with dozens of people hopping online at the same time. (Please, do the rest of us a favor, and skip the video streaming, at the very least.)
While Google wants you to download their Chrome web browser if you haven't already tried it out, they've acknowledged that you don't actually need Chrome in order to take advantage of the free Gogo offer.
Why just these three airlines? They're the ones with their entire domestic fleets, or at least their mainline fleets, set up to offer Gogo Inflight Internet service. We'd love to see Gogo for free on other carriers' flights over the holidays, too, but we're not expecting to.
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