You first-class passengers are about to get a little bit more classy, a whole heck of a lot more classy if Samsung has anything to say about it. Samsung has just sealed a “landmark agreement” with American Airlines to provide Galaxy Tab 10.1 Android tablets to Premium Class passengers for in-flight entertainment. This move will start with 6,000 tablets deployed later this year (2011) and will replace the current personal entertainment device (which, I’m sure they’d admit, was untastefully out of date,) this happening on transcontinental flights between New York’s JFK and Los Angeles, JFK and San Francisco, and Miami and Los Angeles.
Additionally, these tablets will be deployed to international flights from and to Europe and South America served with 767-300 aircraft; and transcontinental flights departing from Boston to Los Angeles served with 757 aircraft. This is a rather forward thinking move made by an airline that’s part of a much larger hive mind which says that airlines should stay as they are because it works. We’ve not had airplanes that have allowed smoking for many, many years now and they STILL make a point to note that you’re not allowed to do so, marking specifically that you’ll be riding on a non-smoking flight – as opposed to… a non-smoking flight.
Check out our hands-on with the Galaxy Tab 10.1 and get ready for the full review coming early this week! Also check out the Galaxy Tab 10.1 Google I/O Limited Edition review!
This also hopefully marks a move to more modular systems in aircraft, many airlines still relying on once-built models with no modifications until it’s time to scrap. Notice the plastic stuck-in window shades and the full-deck walls. Bring us into the future, Samsung! Then again, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 has no access to battery and no microSD card slot, so maybe the airlines have found their perfect match. Check out the full press release below.
American Airlines Becomes First North American Airline to Feature Branded Tablets Onboard by Ordering the World’s Thinnest Mobile Tablet Currently Available
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.1, today announced that American Airlines will offer Galaxy Tab™ 10.1 mobile tablets for premium class in-flight entertainment.
“Through our agreement with Samsung, American is the first North American airline to offer a branded tablet onboard its aircraft”
“Earlier this month we made history by launching the world’s thinnest large screen tablet currently available and today we unveil another first with American Airlines’ selection of the Galaxy Tab 10.1,” said Dale Sohn, President of Samsung Mobile.
American Airlines, a founding member of the oneworld® Alliance, plans to deploy 6,000 of the new Galaxy Tab 10.1 devices onboard select flights beginning later this year. The tablets will replace the airline’s current personal entertainment device in American’s premium cabins on transcontinental flights between New York’s JFK and Los Angeles, JFK and San Francisco, and Miami and Los Angeles served with 767-200 and 767-300 aircraft; international flights to and from Europe and South America served with 767-300 aircraft; and transcontinental flights departing from Boston to Los Angeles served with 757 aircraft.
“Our engagement with American Airlines further illustrates the growing interest and demand we’re seeing from enterprise customers for the Samsung Galaxy portfolio,” said Tim Wagner, vice president and general manager of enterprise sales for Samsung Mobile. “As we continue to grow our enterprise customer base, we’re committed to empowering a connected mobile workforce and enabling leading companies like American Airlines to enhance their customers’ experience by providing world-class entertainment and enterprise-ready devices.”
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 combines the Android platform, ultra-slim, lightweight design, a brilliant 10-inch touchscreen and array of applications enhancing the in-flight entertainment experience for travelers onboard American Airlines.
“Through our agreement with Samsung, American is the first North American airline to offer a branded tablet onboard its aircraft,” said Virasb Vahidi, American’s Chief Commercial Officer. “We are working hard to revitalize our fleet and invest wisely in new products and services to modernize and enhance the travel experience. Working with Samsung to outfit our premium cabins with the innovative Galaxy Tab will give our premium customers a modern and innovative in-flight entertainment experience.”
The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is a WiFi-enabled tablet that measures at just 8.6 millimeters slim, making it the thinnest large screen tablet currently available in the world. The Galaxy Tab 10.1 is powered by the Android™ 3.1 (Honeycomb) platform, offering faster and smoother transitions between different applications, more intuitive navigation to and from home screens and broader support of USB accessories, external keyboards, joysticks and gamepads. Samsung will customize the Galaxy Tab for American’s in-flight entertainment needs, including the addition of expanded memory.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 WiFi edition is currently available exclusively at the Best Buy Union Square location in New York City. Starting June 17, the Galaxy Tab 10.1 will be available nationwide. Visit www.samsung.com and www.aa.com for additional details.
1 Number one mobile phone provider in the U.S. claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics, Q1 2011 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Reports.
About Samsung Telecommunications America
Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.
is there going to be an inflight App store on the plane or will it just come loaded with a bunch of movies and whatever the popular games of the moment are?