Working Anywhere

Faster WiFi Coming to the Sky

As a regular user of Aircell's GoGo service on a few airlines, most notably Virgin America and AirTran, because they offer it fleet wide, I'm always happy to see greater efforts put on in-flight WiFi. The experience I've had has been "good enough" to "stay connected" and with all the work my team and I have going on a daily basis, some of which requires review in real time. Unfortunately, my choices in airlines and even flights domestically have been pretty much limited to those two because the other longer established carriers have pretty much only been deploying WiFi on their long haul routes or chosen to only deploy it on newer planes vs. retrofitting the older ones when they come in for regular maintenance. For the business traveler, WiFi in the sky is a must have. It changes the entire travel paradigm for those of us who need to be in touch more often, and for long haul flights of more than 3 hours, almost an essential. Sure, there's a point where you want to get away, but online connectivity has pretty much eliminated my need to "red eye."

The news about faster in the sky WiFi from ViaSat could not be better news as it opens up additional options for fliers and likely means that WiFi on International flights is not too far away.

Staying Professional In A Virtual Meeting

The New York Times has a collection of tips on staying professional in a virtual meeting.

My advice. Be yourself.

In The UK BT Launches a Wi-Fi Smartphone App

If you're a resident of the UK and you get your broadband from BT you may want to check out pal Dean Bubley's post about the new BT iOS for Smartphones. Add that, download a Truphone client, and start making phone calls. You can of course do the same with Skype, Gizmo or Bria from Counterpath, but I see this as a way for those who don't need a mobile phone all to still have the benefits of being reached or making calls without a contract or even a pre-paid SIM.

For pre-teens who text, Truphone provides that benefit, and it's a way for parents to keep their punters from being on a mobile, without going the contract route.

Airfare Prices Rising, Video Conferencing Costs Falling

When I see a story like the one in the New York Times today about rising airfares, more packed flights and less and less new routes being added, plus the additional costs, hassle factors and fear of being arrested for leaving a laptop on for ten seconds longer than the flight attendant thinks is necessary, my mind goes to the direction of video conferencing.

At my home office I can have one on one Skype calls, make use of my client GlowPoint's Video Exchange Service that provides a platform neutral interconnection service (think having Cisco Telepresence talk to HP Halo or Polycom video) using a LifeSize Passport system I have, fire up former client SightSpeed (they were a client until their 2008 acquisition by Logitech) or dabble with a service like IOCom or Vidyo that offer hosted and managed video conferencing but are locked into their own proprietary formats (for now.)

So think about it. Do you want to be in a flying tube and having to run the risk of being arrested for leaving a laptop or cell phone on for longer than someone deems logical, or would you rather be more efficient, in every respect, and be in your comfortable office or even at home, where someone who cares for you, and works for you is not telling you it's time to shut down.

For me the choice is simple. Fly less, see people more using video conferencing.