LAKE FOREST, Calif.,
March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Panasonic
Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), the world leader in
state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment and communication (IFEC)
systems, today announced a new strategic agreement with Deutsche
Telekom. Under terms of the new arrangement, Deutsche Telekom
with its T-Mobile brand will be the preferred wireless internet
service provider for Panasonic Avionics' Global Communications
Suite.
"Panasonic is excited to announce our new relationship with
Deutsche Telekom because we believe that the T-Mobile brand offers
the perfect complement to our Global Communications Suite," said
Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer
of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. "T-Mobile is an
established, best-in-class brand that offers an impressive
portfolio of global roaming agreements and an excellent experience
in terms of customer care, billing and support. In fact, in
many instances, T-Mobile and its roaming partners already enjoy
strong relationships with many of the same passengers that the
airlines and Panasonic intend to serve. By combining these
T-Mobile advantages with the unique connectivity capabilities of
our Global Communications suite, Panasonic and Deutsche Telekom
have the potential to offer airline passengers and crew an
unmatched experience in broadband internet, data and voice
communications."
"Joining forces with Panasonic Avionics Corporation in the field
of in-flight connectivity and bringing in our expertise of customer
insights and telecommunication trends opens huge opportunities for
both partners," says Philipp Humm,
Chief Regional Officer Europe of Deutsche Telekom. "We are looking
forward to a successful future and to elevate communication
services to new heights."
Panasonic's Global Communications Suite provides high-speed
broadband internet, data and voice communications services to
passengers and crew, using a GSM or Wi-Fi -enabled device.
Under the terms of this new agreement, Deutsche Telekom will
manage the internet gateway and handle passenger billing and
customer support for Wi-Fi services. In addition, Deutsche
Telekom will provide marketing and promotional support to drive
utilization of the services.
The Panasonic Global Communications Suite can be used as a
stand-alone service or be integrated with the aircraft's existing
IFEC system. It offers airlines the flexibility to provide
passenger connectivity through passenger-paid access to the
Internet or through advertising-supported content and sponsored
Internet sessions. The Global Communications Suite supports
popular passenger online activities, such as accessing corporate
VPNs or intranets, browsing the Web, personal e-mail and instant
messaging, social networking and online shopping.
About Deutsche Telekom AG
Deutsche Telekom is one of the leading integrated
telecommunications companies worldwide with more than 151 million
mobile customers, more than 38 million fixed-network lines and more
than 15 million broadband lines (as at: December 31, 2009). Its product brands are called
T-Home (fixed-network telephony, broadband Internet),T-Mobile
(mobile communication) and T-Systems (ICT solutions). As an
international group of companies in around 50 countries throughout
the world with almost 260,000 employees (as at: December 31, 2009), Deutsche Telekom generated
more than half of its revenues of EUR 64.6
billion outside Germany in
2009. Further information is available at www.telekom.com.
About Panasonic Avionics Corporation
Panasonic Avionics Corporation is the world's leading supplier
of in-flight entertainment and communication systems. The
company's best-in-class solutions, supported by professional
maintenance services, fully integrate with the cabin enabling
airlines to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich
variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality
communication systems and solutions, and lower overall costs.
Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corporation, a U.S.
corporation, is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of
North America, the principal North
American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC).
Headquartered in Lake Forest,
California with over 2,600 employees and operations in 50
locations worldwide, it serves over 200 customers worldwide and
provides IFEC systems on over 3,700 aircraft. For additional
information, please visit www.panasonic.aero.
SOURCE Panasonic Avionics Corporation