Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE) has launched Airconnect Go 2.0, the second generation of its portable wireless inflight entertainment (IFE) system, which lets passengers stream media content to their own devices.
As passengers control the IFE via their personal electronic devices such as smartphones, rather than a seatback display, Airconnect Go 2.0 reduces touchpoints during flight. Users can access over 3,500 hours of IFE content, including Hollywood movies, TV series, music, podcasts, digital publications, games, and an interactive flight tracker. The system can be powered either by battery or the aircraft system.
Mike Pigott, SVP of connectivity at Global Eagle stated, “In a post-Covid-19 world, Airconnect Go 2.0 elevates the cabin experience while keeping costs down. Our upgraded solution is lightweight and robust, providing 15 hours of continuous service and expandable storage capacity, double that of the previous iteration. There is no hardware to install and it delivers instant results, offering curated content packages to relax, inform, and entertain travellers.
“We want Airconnect Go 2.0 to be a positive enhancement for airlines during this time. They can benefit from an affordable monthly subscription model, touchless cellular or wi-fi updates, and comprehensive user-consumption behaviour data, enabling IFE managers to gain an in-depth understanding of passenger tastes,” he added.
The system has no hardware activation fee and is compact enough to fit into the overhead bin of most commercial aircraft, weighing 7 lbs. Airconnect Go 2.0 uses the latest file encryption technologies to maximise content storage by 50%. Multiple units can be positioned throughout the aircraft, with only one connection point for passengers, smoothing their access to the entertainment portal.
GEE says that a new lower pricing structure for optional accessories is available, including an aircraft-powered solution, a ‘PA Pause Dongle’ to automatically pause media playback during onboard announcements, a mounting tray, and a bag bin partition, enabling Airconnect Go 2.0 to be securely stored in the overhead storage bin.
Airconnect Go 2.0 includes Global Eagle’s Airtime Portal and Digital Rights Management (DRM) capabilities, supporting passengers with native playback from their web-browser across multiple operating systems, including iOS, Android, Mac OS and Windows.