Tenzing Communications
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications, In-flight connectivity |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | David Coe, Simon "Symonty" Gresham, private investors |
| Defunct | 2004 |
| Fate | Merged with OnAir |
| Headquarters | Seattle , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (in-flight connectivity) |
Key people | Simon "Symonty" Gresham (led software development) |
| Products | In-flight data connectivity (text messaging, instant messaging, email) |
Tenzing Communications, headquartered in Seattle, was established in 1999 by David Coe, Simon "Symonty" Gresham, and a consortium of private investors. The initial capital infusion funded critical software development led by Gresham. Subsequent rounds of private equity investment attracted major stakeholders such as Airbus, Cathay Pacific, and Rockwell Collins by 2001. The enterprise focused on delivering in-flight data connectivity—including text messaging, instant messaging, and email—through broadband satellite receivers utilizing Inmarsat's fourth-generation satellite network. Nevertheless, the deployment of Inmarsat's satellites occurred later than anticipated: March 2005 (I4 F1), November 2005 (I4 F2), and a planned launch in April 2008 (I4 F3).
On August 26, 2000, Tenzing successfully completed its inaugural installation and email transmission aboard an Air Canada 767 aircraft.
The aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks brought about FAA restrictions prohibiting passengers from carrying bags or laptops in passenger cabins, which drastically affected Tenzing's operations and resulted in a workforce reduction of approximately 90%.
During this period, Tenzing collaborated with Verizon AirFone to implement a low-bandwidth communication system on United Airlines and other U.S. carriers; this service operated for over a year before being discontinued.
In 2004, Tenzing merged with OnAir, a joint venture formed alongside SITA and Airbus. OnAir aimed to launch broadband internet and cellular connectivity services onboard aircraft in 2005. However, delays in the Inmarsat satellite launches postponed testing until early 2008, with the first commercial deployment occurring on Kingfisher Airlines around mid-2009.
External links
- Seattle Times (July 21, 2004) coverage on Tenzing, SITA, and Airbus collaboration
- Airbus announces investment in Tenzing Communications in 2001
- Inmarsat press release detailing final I4 satellite launch schedule for 2008
- SITA announcement highlighting Kingfisher Airlines as a prospective launch client
- Promotional video from the year 2000
- Airline partnership video released in 2003
- United Airlines completes full fleet installation of JetConnect powered by Tenzing (2003)
- In-flight promotional video: United JetConnect collaboration between Verizon and Tenzing (2003)
- Presentation covering installation details of the first email system