Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Aircell Rolls Usage-Based Billing

Broomfield, Colorado-based Aircell, which develops broadband communications hardware and related services for commercial and business aviation, said Wednesday that it has added new, usage-based billing plans to the firm's high speed Internet service, and phased out a reduced connection speed plan. The firm said that its business aviation customers can now choose from two additional plans, starting at $395/month, for Internet access. The plans include a 40MB plan for $395/month, with a $8.95/MB charge for additional transfers, and a 100MB usage plan for $895/month with an additional $7.95 for additional MB transfers. The firm previously only offered an unlimited plan, at $1995 a month. The firm said the new plans are because it has found that no two business aircraft operators are the same, and have different online habits, passenger loads, and hours flown. The company also said it is phasing out its Ultraspeed Lite plan, which had offered unlimited usage but reduced connection speeds; the firm said it only saw a handful of customer with any interest in that option.