rickycourtney
Conductor
So I've been thinking... there may be a way for Amtrak to offer WiFi on long-distance trains and actually make a profit on the service.
The answer: satellite powered WiFi.
Southwest Airlines currently offers the service on its planes for $8 a day per device. It has the same restrictions as the current cell-based AmtrakConnect system (no high bandwidth applications and websites, including Netflix).
Here's the other great part of the satellite powered system on Southwest... it has the ability to receive satellite television signals and a computer onboard can store content. Currently you can watch 13 live channels and up to 75 television episodes for free thanks to a marketing promotion with Dish. The system also has 25 movies stored onboard that passengers can rent for 5 dollars.
Greyhound has introduced a similar (but cell powered) system called BLUE that has an onboard computer that stores "25 movies, 15 hours of television shows, 100 music albums and five games". It's a premium service in addition to the free cell-based WiFi Greyhound already offers. The beauty of these systems is that because the content is stored on an onboard computer... it's always available, no matter the location of the vehicle.
I could easily see Amtrak offering a satellite powered AmtrakConnect system. It would generate revenue in the form WiFi day passes, TV day passes, and movie rentals. Plus they could still offer free cell powered WiFi.
Of course, the best entertainment Amtrak provides will always remain free... the view out of the window!
The answer: satellite powered WiFi.
Southwest Airlines currently offers the service on its planes for $8 a day per device. It has the same restrictions as the current cell-based AmtrakConnect system (no high bandwidth applications and websites, including Netflix).
Here's the other great part of the satellite powered system on Southwest... it has the ability to receive satellite television signals and a computer onboard can store content. Currently you can watch 13 live channels and up to 75 television episodes for free thanks to a marketing promotion with Dish. The system also has 25 movies stored onboard that passengers can rent for 5 dollars.
Greyhound has introduced a similar (but cell powered) system called BLUE that has an onboard computer that stores "25 movies, 15 hours of television shows, 100 music albums and five games". It's a premium service in addition to the free cell-based WiFi Greyhound already offers. The beauty of these systems is that because the content is stored on an onboard computer... it's always available, no matter the location of the vehicle.
I could easily see Amtrak offering a satellite powered AmtrakConnect system. It would generate revenue in the form WiFi day passes, TV day passes, and movie rentals. Plus they could still offer free cell powered WiFi.
Of course, the best entertainment Amtrak provides will always remain free... the view out of the window!