According to recent news, wireless internet service is starting to spread among airlines in the United States. Delta and American Airlines have installed it on more than a dozen planes each, and several other carriers are planning to test it.

Although some business flyers are happy about the additional services, a flight attendants’ union has expressed growing apprehensions and concerns over the inevitable technology that terrorists could use their connection to plot or launch attacks. Not only that, there are concerns about how flight attendants will be able to monitor and handle the usage if lets say a customer fails to lower the volume of his earphones while watching YouTube, or if a customer watches porn in the net and the person seated beside him complains… And there is the inescapable fact that one of the last places on earth to get away from it all can now be turned into a mobile office.There are also the concern over fees since wifi on air is not free. On Delta, service is $9.95 for a flight of three hours or less, $12.95 for a longer flight.

I wonder how long it will take for our local carriers to offer wifi on air. Judging by the increasing number of laptop, smartphone toting travelers in the Philippines, I think this inevitable technology will be welcomed here. Cost might be another issue altogether, but for the sake of discussion, how much are you willing to pay to stay online even on air? Would you like to be “reachable” even while traveling? Do you think this would encourage more productivity for business travelers?

Share your thoughts with us here at Pinoy Travel Blog.

That’s right, dude! The latest thing in Baguio: Surfing at the Burnham Lake!

Internet surfing, that is

My surfer dude nanay picked up a story from Baguio’s local paper about Free WiFi Internet access at Burnham Park. So I tried it out and was pleasantly surprised that the WiFi Hotspot DID work .

Burnham Park is now a free wireless internet access site

Burnham Park is the first premier public park in the entire country to become an “e-tourism park” following the launching of a Free WiFi or wireless fidelity Internet access at the park lake last March 27.

With the launching, the Burnham Park lake is now a WiFi access area, which allows residents and tourists to browse the web using their laptops, WiFi phones and other portable device to access the Internet.
Source: Baguio Midland Courier, March 30 2008

I tried the WiFi hotspot and true enough, I was able to sniff a hotspot named “MIMO” – the name of the WiFi provider.

That’s fun. Tourists will be able to check their e-mails while on vacation in Baguio. Students in Baguio will also be able to access the Internet from the park.

There’s a risk of theft if you use your laptop in such a public and open area, though. It’s probably easier to access the hotspot using a cellphone or other more portable devices. Just make sure to protect yourself from robbers, secure your valuable gadgets. The city government announced that they will deploy more guards to keep the park safe and secure.

Contact the Baguio Tourism office near the skating rink for inquiries: 0915-5586814

Thanks to Elizabeth for lending her Swan Boat — twas a rockin ride, dude! Awesome!
Contact Elizabeth, her stall has a moderate wifi signal (2 out of 5 bars): 0920-6377894, tarrayoelizabeth@yahoo.com .

More WiFi hotspots in Baguio on Technobiography >>

ka edong
surfer dude