“Airline passengers will be able to connect their iPods to in-flight entertainment systems and watch their favorite videos without fear of running out of battery power while traveling on any of at least four major carriers, iPod maker Apple Computer Inc. said on Tuesday,” Paul Thomasch reports for Reuters.
“Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Dubai’s Emirates, and UAL Corp.’s United Airlines will begin offering their passengers iPod seat connections, which power and charge iPods during flight and allow the video content on the devices to be viewed on seat-back displays,” Thomasch reports.
Thomasch reports, “Apple said in its statement that Air France and KLM were also part of the agreement. However, those two airlines said it was premature to be definitive. ‘It’s way too early to confirm any such details,’ said an Air France spokeswoman, referring to the iPod seat connectivity and a mid-2007 availability date. ‘It’s very premature what Apple are saying,’ said a KLM spokesman, noting that there have been ‘informal contacts’ between Apple and the airline. ‘We have no idea if this is technically feasible, if it’s financially viable, or it customers want it,’ he said. ‘At this moment, we have absolutely no intention of introducing it on board.'”
Thomasch reports, “Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said: ‘Clearly we have had a miscommunication with AirFrance-KLM, but we are excited about announcing iPod integration with in-flight entertainment systems on Continental, Delta, Emirates and United today.'”
Full article here.
Pure speculation: Apple wanted to release something on “Zune Day” (probably just to poke a stick in Microsoft’s eye, but they could’ve just let the Zune reviews speak for themselves) and gave the press release clearance before Air France and KLM were fully on board. What do you think?
Related articles:
Apple teams with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM & United to deliver iPod integration – November 14, 2006