JetBlue Offers In-Flight Wi-Fi

Those with dreams of online deathmatches a mile above the Earth will have to wait, but basic e-mail and IM functionality are now available on limited flights.

The dream of geeky travelers everywhere – in-flight Wi-Fi – will soon be fulfilled by discount carrier JetBlue… sort of. Yahoo and RIM have teamed up with JetBlue to offer wireless connections on flights, but full access to the wide open Internet isn’t available just yet.

According to News.com, users with laptops will only be able to access a special version of Yahoo that allows them to check e-mail and instant message. Owners of Wi-Fi-enabled BlackBerrys will be able to check their e-mail accounts. In other words: all business, no YouTube.

The program started off as a beta test aboard a single Airbus A320, dubbed “BetaBlue,” which made its first flight on Tuesday from New York City to San Francisco. While the plane will be joining JetBlue’s normal fleet, travelers will have no way of booking a flight on it or requesting a Wi-Fi flight.