How to make free calls from a plane using Google Voice and Gmail

by Willy Volk on

Right now, I’m cruising at 35,000 feet on a Delta flight surfing the Web with Gogo’s Inflight internet access. My flight has been delayed, and I want to tell my wife that she can pick me up later. And it occurred to me: I wonder if Google’s new “Call from Gmail” feature would work while flying.

Sure enough, I opened Gmail’s “Google Talk Plugin” interface, entered Gadling editor Grant Martin’s phone number and pressed “call.” As it turned out, he answered the phone — and he could hear me.

What does this mean? Well, it means that, if you’re in-flight, and you have a headset and a Gmail account (and a Gogo Internet pass), you can make free calls from the air (to the US and Canada only) to landlines. This is not new for VOIP (Skype’s infrastructure allows this, though it’s hit and miss), but this is a first for Google.

Is it a win for airline passengers? We’re undecided at this point. While the convenience is certainly nice, do we really need to hear the girl next to us on the plane cooing to her boyfriend via her Gmail account?

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Gogo and Foursquare introduce mile high badge for inflight check-ins!

by Scott Carmichael on

Fan of Foursquare? Starting tomorrow, you’ll be able to earn the new Mile High badge any time you check in on a Gogo Inflight Wifi enabled flight.

With just under 1000 planes offering the Gogo Inflight Internet service on 9 different airlines, it isn’t that hard to get online in the skies nowadays – and once connected, all you need to do is open up Foursquare on your mobile device, and check-in. If you are connected using your notebook, check out these computer based Foursquare check-in apps. A single check in is all it takes to earn the badge.

In-flight connections on Gogo start at $4.95 for flights up to 1.5 hours. An unlimited account is now on sale for $34.95 with a discounted first month for just $19.95.

So, next time you are flying one of the nine airlines offering Gogo on some of their planes, be sure to get yourself online and earn this very special badge. And while you are at it, don’t forget to become our friend on Fouraquare!

Win free Inflight Internet for a year from T-Mobile and Gogo Inflight

by Scott Carmichael on

Back in February, we mentioned a neat promotion between T-Mobile and Gogo Inflight where buyers of the new T-Mobile HTC HD2 get 6 months of free access to the Gogo service.

Now the two have teamed up again to promote this new Windows Powered smartphone.

Sure, the grand prize may be a trip for four to L.A., but to me, the free year of Gogo Inflight Internet access is the prize that stands out. In total, you’ll get 200 free sessions, and honestly, if you fly more than that in a year you are insane (or well on your way to it).

This is over $2,500 in free Internet access – and more than enough for a ton of inflight Tweets about how awesome inflight Internet is.

To enter the contest, you’ll need to hand over some personal information, and extra entries can be won if you link things to your Facebook account.

Other prizes include an HTC HD2 smartphone, TV box sets, DVD’s and more. So, head on over to the contest page and try your luck.

US Airways inflight Wi-Fi service available on all A321 aircraft – with a freebie

by Scott Carmichael on

After a brief introduction period, US Airways has become the next big airline to bring the Gogo Inflight Internet service to most of its planes. Starting this week, the service will be available on all US Airways Airbus A321 planes, and for the next seven days, access will be free of charge (June 1st – June 8 11:59pm)

When you board a Gogo enabled plane, you’ll see a Wi-Fi symbol next to the boarding door, as well as an instruction card in the seat pocket. Once the plane passes 10,000 feet (and the captain permits it), you can turn on your laptop, PDA, iPad or smartphone, and access the network.

After this week, access will cost $4.95 on flights up to 1 1/2 hours, $9.95 ($7.95 for small mobile devices) on flights up to 3 hours, and $12.95 ($7.95 for small mobile devices) on flights over 3 hours. On select flights, you’ll even be able to access the service up to 100 miles beyond the U.S. border.

To learn more about the service, how to connect, and where it’ll be available – check out the US Airways Gogo Inflight Internet page.

Free Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi on Alaska Airlines this summer

by Scott Carmichael on

Alaska Airlines is celebrating the rollout of Gogo Inflight Internet on their fleet with a summer of free access.

Gogo Inflight Internet is available on six of their Boeing 737-800 planes and the current plan is to have the entire fleet outfitted by the end of the year.

You’ll know that you are on a Wi-Fi enabled plane thanks to a Wi-Fi decal next to the boarding door. Once the plane reaches 10,000 feet, you’ll be able to turn on your portable device and search for the “gogoinflight” Wi-Fi network.

Through July 31st, access will be free of charge, compliments of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card – saving you up to $12.95 per flight. You’ll need promotional code “ALASKAVISA” to bring the price down to $0.

Once the free period ends, access prices will vary between $4.95 and $12.95 depending on the length of the flight and the kind of device you are using.

At the moment, the Gogo Inflight service is only available when the plane is flying over the contiguous U.S. – coverage in parts of Alaska is scheduled to be available in early 2011. A map of the coverage area is available on the Alaska Airlines Wi-Fi information page.