Forbes.com: United Makes Right Call With In-Flight E-Mail

United, a unit of UAL, will install in-flight e-mail for all domestic routes by year's end. A 5-year-old, 70-person startup, Tenzing Communications, is providing the e-mail service. That company's chief executive, Alan McGinnis, says e-mail is the "killer application" of in-flight Internet services. Tenzing's system uses narrowband technology that most planes already have installed. When a passenger attempts to send or receive e-mail messages, they are collected or "batched" into a server that transmits them about once every 15 minutes.

United's service, called JetConnect, will cost $16 per flight, plus 10 cents per kilobyte for every kilobyte over two kilobytes. For $5.99 per flight, users can access instant messaging, one-way text messaging, news, sports, stocks and city guides. The service is accessible by plugging a laptop into the Airfone. Those flying in coach will have to share the one phone made available to every three seats. Each first-class seat has a dedicated Airfone.