EMS Sky Connect introduced the Forté AirMail service last month, pitching it as giving passengers “pole-to-pole, anywhere-on-the-globe, unfettered in-flight e-mail access.” The system uses the Iridium network to provide e-mail access to any Wi-Fi-enabled smartphone or PDA. “We tested every device we could find and everything we tested worked,” said EMS Sky Connect general manager Steve Silverman. “We had as many as 10 devices [operating] simultaneously, and every person was getting e-mail in less than a minute.” The default mode monitors the connected Wi-Fi devices and opens the connection when an e-mail action is detected. The connection remains active until it is manually disconnected or a pre-set timeout occurs. Once the connection has been disabled, it remains off for a minimum pre-set interval, and the connection can be re-established as needed. Automated and manual modes allow the operator and user to control airtime use and thereby manage costs. EMS Sky Connect expects to have an amended STC this month and will start shipping kits early next year.