Inmarsat takes to the air

Satellite phone company Inmarsat began offering its own version of high-speed Internet access for airline passengers Tuesday. Internet access is sent from the constellation of Inmarsat satellites to antennas on airplanes used for long journeys, such as across the Atlantic Ocean.

Inmarsat says that 80 percent of all "long-haul" aircraft have the correct antennas for the service. Air Canada already offers high-speed service in some of its aircraft. Aircraft maker Boeing also offers "Connexion by Boeing," another high-speed, high-flying Web service.