Two of six airlines say there's no ink on iPod deal
Apple Computer said Tuesday it had secured deals with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to offer in-flight iPod connectivity, but two of those airlines have since disputed such claims.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker, whose announcement coincided precisely with rival Microsoft Corp.'s official launch of Zune, said the in-flight iPod connectivity would be available to passengers beginning in mid 2007.
"It's way too early to confirm any such details," an Air France spokeswoman, referring to the iPod seat connectivity and a mid-2007 availability date, told Reuters.
Similarly, a spokesman for KLM told the media outlet there had only been "informal contacts" between Apple and the airline leading up to the announcement.
"It's very premature what Apple are saying," he said. "We have no idea if this is technically feasible, if it's financially viable, or it customers want it."
"At this moment, we have absolutely no intention of introducing it on board," the spokesman for KLM added.
In a statement to Reuters, 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."
Ray Neidl, an analyst at Calyon Securitie, told Reuters that all airlines have been looking to upgrade their entertainment systems -- especially for longer distance flights -- and to expect more announcements from Apple on the subject in the near future.
"This is just one way of doing it," he said. "It's a nice add-on, makes customers happier, keeps them out of flight attendants' hair."
The Cupertino, Calif.-based iPod maker, whose announcement coincided precisely with rival Microsoft Corp.'s official launch of Zune, said the in-flight iPod connectivity would be available to passengers beginning in mid 2007.
"It's way too early to confirm any such details," an Air France spokeswoman, referring to the iPod seat connectivity and a mid-2007 availability date, told Reuters.
Similarly, a spokesman for KLM told the media outlet there had only been "informal contacts" between Apple and the airline leading up to the announcement.
"It's very premature what Apple are saying," he said. "We have no idea if this is technically feasible, if it's financially viable, or it customers want it."
"At this moment, we have absolutely no intention of introducing it on board," the spokesman for KLM added.
In a statement to Reuters, 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."
Ray Neidl, an analyst at Calyon Securitie, told Reuters that all airlines have been looking to upgrade their entertainment systems -- especially for longer distance flights -- and to expect more announcements from Apple on the subject in the near future.
"This is just one way of doing it," he said. "It's a nice add-on, makes customers happier, keeps them out of flight attendants' hair."
Comments
Apple Computer said Tuesday it is teaming up with Air France, Continental, Delta, Emirates, KLM and United to deliver the first seamless integration between iPod and in-flight entertainment systems.
Two of the six came out immediately to deny it, so we know that 4 are on board (else they too would have denied it). That disputes KLMs concern that it is not technically feasible, and it tells them (and AirFrance) that their competitors will in fact be doing this, so they can either join the party or lose the sales.
This is the same as the 3Ghz G5. Steve gave the ultimatum to get it done or get out of the way.
Apple is in your pocket (iPod)
Apple is in your ear (iPone)
Apple is in your living room (iTV)
Apple is in your plane (flyPod)
Apple is in your car (carPod)
No leak, Apple put out the message they wanted.
I was actually joking
But Kudos to Apple for getting the iPod out there and stealing some zune-thunder....
Although, I think he should let the zune news get as public as possible..... most of it just seems negative...
What a surprise. The dutch and french don't want to support Apple. Same regions that gave Apple grief about their "MP3 player monopoly'.
I know thats wierd to me....
I never adopted the "anti-french" sentiment that was so prominent in 2004 (and even way back - in america at least), but their government sure is acting like a pill.... I understand that they (and the netherlands), don't want another microsoft cropping up, but 2 wrongs don't make a right.
I read part of the netherlands argument, some of it made sense (the part about the EULA being able to change without notice at any time), but for both the governments of France and the Netherlands to attempt to force Apple to open up their own DRM (okay the DRM they license), seems stupid.... government doesn't know jack about business (at least any governments that have running deficits don't)
(And I'm sorry for all my parenthetical staements)
What a surprise. The dutch and french don't want to support Apple. Same regions that gave Apple grief about their "MP3 player monopoly'.
Perhaps you should leave your political agenda out of this.
Introducing the Boeing 747 - the latest iPod accessory.
Perhaps you should leave your political agenda out of this.
I don't think this is an empty 'political' comment. Both countries have shown anti-iPod/iTS sentiment and the lack of TV Shows/Movies on iTS outside of the US will be down to local legislation as much as the content owners disallowing (why wouldn't they want more coverage in Europe?). Apple uptake in Europe has been excellent but it's largely in the UK so KLM & AirFrance may not have as big a demand from customers as the US carriers.
I wonder how a Norwegian Airline would have reacted?
McD
I don't think this is an empty 'political' comment. Both countries have shown anti-iPod/iTS sentiment and the lack of TV Shows/Movies on iTS outside of the US will be down to local legislation as much as the content owners disallowing (why wouldn't they want more coverage in Europe?). Apple uptake in Europe has been excellent but it's largely in the UK so KLM & AirFrance may not have as big a demand from customers as the US carriers.
I can't find the story that says that Netherlands has an anti-iPod/iTunes sentiment. They were considering an MP3 player tax, but that wasn't specifically against iPod or Apple. Are you sure you aren't confusing them with the Scandinavian countries that expressed concern about the fact that iTunes changes their contract terms after purchase?
be debating internally whether to wait to support the universal docking connector instead of Apple's proprietary one...
There is a universal dock connector? I thought that attempt died. I haven't heard a peep out of that attempt since it was announced a year ago.
I don't think this is an empty 'political' comment. Both countries have shown anti-iPod/iTS sentiment
I don't know of any Dutch "anti-iPod/iTS sentiment", and I would assume the vast majority of French people don't have one either.
More importantly, I doubt there is much overlap between the opinion of some French legislators and the opinion of management at Air France/KLM.
You're making yourself sound stupid when using "the French" and "the Dutch", as if they were one gobbled up piece of jell-o that just happens to be human, and, oh, despite being tens of millions of people, it also shares the exact same opinions on everything.
As far as the Netherlands, I think the poster is confusing them with Norway, which is heavily anti-iPod (at least the regulators are).
So give him a break - he's half-right...
I don't think this is an empty 'political' comment. Both countries have shown anti-iPod/iTS sentiment and the lack of TV Shows/Movies on iTS outside of the US will be down to local legislation as much as the content owners disallowing (why wouldn't they want more coverage in Europe?). Apple uptake in Europe has been excellent but it's largely in the UK so KLM & AirFrance may not have as big a demand from customers as the US carriers.
I wonder how a Norwegian Airline would have reacted?
McD
Your ideas make about as much sense as saying that Apple and Microsoft shared the same agenda because they are both from the US.
You also said that iPods are only bought in the UK, so were did you get those statistics. Besides, you can use iTS downloads without owning an iPod (some would say videos are even better on the computer screen), actually you don't even need a Mac, because iTunes is available on Windows as well.
And the reason why Apple has not yet started selling videos in Europe? Simple:
1. Apple has always been a US-centric company. Many of their products services are better / cheaper /earlier in the US than in other contries or are better etc. in English than in other languages. If Apple cannot launch a product / service internationally they'll be fine as long as their home market is on board.
2. American TV and film studios sell a lot of content to European TV stations which may choose to protect their rights and broadcast that stuff years later than in the US, so there will be another party at the table. These stations have no interest in their material being diluted by the iTS.
3. Content owners still like to separate rights for different European countries in order to keep their cards close to their chests and potentially improve profits, while EU legislation tries to enforce a common market and stop customer discrimination. It's a thin rope for content owners.