Avionics
TrueNorth, LiveTV team on bizjet Wi-Fi
TrueNorth Avionics, LiveTV Airfone and Satcom Direct are teaming to develop and market a next-generation Magnastar air-to-ground communications system th

TrueNorth Avionics, LiveTV Airfone and Satcom Direct are teaming to develop and market a next-generation Magnastar air-to-ground communications system that will provide voice, Wi-Fi Internet and e-mail, text messaging and multichannel VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) services to business jet operators.

Using the existing Magnastar ground network, the system will operate through TrueNorth’s open-architecture ­Simphone- OpenCabin hardware system. The $11,000 package can be purchased as an upgrade for existing Magnastar operators and will also be available to new customers. According to TrueNorth, the hardware package will provide automatic switching from Airfone’s voice and data services to the Iridium satellite communications network when out of range of Magnastar ground stations. Satcom Direct will manage the service and handle all billing.