Rick,

I`m not a techie either but I have a decient grasp on 802.11 as of a couple of days ago when I read the following article posted by richardo.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/961181

Exerpts from the following commentary referenced from.

http://www.airfax.com/airfax/releases/showrelease.asp?id=1353

The IMS system appears to have 802.11 b/g capability, which includes bidirectional cell phone capability. Thats different than I had orrigionally thought. The first read on this article lead me to believe that it was more broad spectrum than just b/g

“In addition to the 802.11 b/g capability, the TDL contains either a tri-band (900, 1800 and 1900 MHz) GSM/GPRS phone or a CDMA phone that provides a wireless, bi-directional data link to your aircraft,” says Farley.

``Depending on the TDL configuration selected by the airline, data can be loaded to or offloaded from an aircraft using a DVD or CD, a USB memory stick, a removable hard drive, and/or an AIT tape. In all cases, data loading takes place automatically as aircraft and IFE conditions permit—onboard the aircraft, not on the tarmac.``

I think that means that the aircraft doesn`t necessarily have to be docked at the gate to update content. Meaning range is limited as the system is not designed to interface satelites.

``Because communications are bi-directional, delivery of the content/data is tracked online, and anxious IFE managers can use the CabinTrends Web portal to determine delivery status of each aircraft`s load. The TDL provides a wireless connection when the aircraft is at the gate. This connection supports key management, remote software updates, remote IFE system monitoring, Passenger Usage/BIT reporting, and more.``

I guess that upon reading this IMS announcement several times and trying to cram the meaning into my pseudo techie brain, my orrigional premise that a partnering of Wencor and IMS would be mutially benificial is probably false. It seems that they would have more to gain than we would. The 802.11 system is not compatable. It depends on who we actually partner with to deliver the 802.11a and what the capabilities they offer but it seems to me in retrospect that we can do better partnering with another provider than IMS. It appears that Tracy Decuir has come to the same conclusion and he`s allot more knowledgeable than any of us! He formerly worked with all these people in the industry and he`s decided to consult for Wencor. Just about any which way you look at it, this is a very good thing.

Larry