Lufthansa Systems has released new products for its PED-viewed BoardConnect infotainment platform, and is now presenting the solution as a fully-featured integration platform. The appropriate apps for Android, iOS and Windows 8 are available for downloading from the app stores.
New features like chat, an online shop and a moving map with points of interest (POI) on different topics will add more variety to the in-flight experience. Passengers can find out about events taking place at their destination, obtain a restaurant recommendation, and even make a reservation online (via satellite, for instance). The BoardConnect platform’s content caching service maintains popular sites on the server, which not only speeds up access to these pages but also saves the airline expensive satellite bandwidth.
The new automated Cabin Data Loader takes care of monthly content updates to the on-board servers, and LTE technology handles fast daily updates of dynamic content such as news and newspapers at speeds of up to 100Mbps. Other new hardware components include the on-board Wireless Access Point developed by Lufthansa Technik, which supports 802.11 ac (the fastest current wi-fi standard) as well as delivering high-definition video throughout the cabin. Additional systems can be easily integrated into the BoardConnect Wi-Fi network. The platform can also be used to store or transmit data for crew applications or the Electronic Flight Bag.
