Boingo Signs Deal With Gogo, But Don't Expect A Discount

It just got a little easier to hop online while cruising along in the friendly skies. Boingo announced today a new partnership with Aircell, the company that's responsible for bringing in-flight Wi-Fi to the vast majority of U.S. airliners that use it today. It's an interesting arrangement, and it's one that we suspect has more to do with marketing than anything else. Basically, the new deal allows existing Boingo subscribers to login and purchase a Gogo account with their existing username and password. If you aren't aware, Boingo provides access to a great many Wi-Fi hotspots in airports and abroad, and those with a monthly account can login to any of those hotspots without fuss.

But here's the weird part: this deal doesn't provide free Gogo access to Boingo customers. And there's not even a discount. So what's the partnership all about, really? It's hard to tell. From a consumer standpoint, there's really nothing special here outside of easier logins for Boingo customers, but you'd think these two wouldn't waste their time together if a discount wasn't in order. Ah well, stranger things have happened in the world of consumer electronics!

Boingo Takes to the Skies with Gogo

Boingo Partners with Gogo to Extend Roaming Network to the Leading Inflight Wi-Fi Internet Service

LOS ANGELES & ITASCA, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Boingo Wireless, Inc. (NASDAQ: WIFI), the Wi-Fi industry's leading provider of software and services worldwide, and Gogo®, the world's leading provider of inflight connectivity, today announced that Boingo customers can now log in to Gogo using their existing Boingo® account. This access includes more than 1,100 planes from nine carriers, providing robust Internet access above 10,000 feet.

"Gogo's inflight network is a key addition to our roaming portfolio, especially since inflight access is one of the most requested service enhancements we receive through our customer feedback channels."

"The Boingo Roaming Network now extends six miles above the Earth thanks to the expansive fleet of Gogo equipped airplanes," said Luis Serrano, senior vice president of business and corporate development for Boingo Wireless. "Gogo's inflight network is a key addition to our roaming portfolio, especially since inflight access is one of the most requested service enhancements we receive through our customer feedback channels."

"Making Gogo more easily available to more customers who already have a Wi-Fi billing relationship ultimately helps us ensure that everyone stays connected in air, online," said Ash ElDifrawi, Gogo's chief marketing officer. "Boingo's extensive customer base brings a legion of active Wi-Fi users into the planes, already armed with a username and password, who can log on right away."

The service is immediately available for Boingo customers via the Gogo home page or by using the latest Boingo® Wi-Finder app. By simply using the "Roaming" button at the bottom of the redirect page, users will be able to choose Boingo as their provider and log in with their existing Boingo username and password. Logging in to Gogo via Boingo's easy-to-use one-click app is as simple as accepting the flight segment charge and entering a CAPTCHA validation phrase. Existing Boingo app users should check for software updates to make sure they have the latest version of Wi-Finder, which supports inflight access. The latest version of the app can be downloaded at www.boingo.com/boingo-apps/.

Inflight access is a premium service and is not included in monthly plans. Boingo laptop and tablet users will be charged $4.95, $9.95 or $12.95 per flight based on the length of the flight. Smartphone users will pay $4.95 or $7.95, depending on flight duration.