A new content service will be available in mid-2016 from Rockwell Collins. Stage is an airworthy, subscription-based media streaming solution for corporate and private aircraft. It enables up to 70 passengers to stream media – including DRM-protected movies and TV shows – to their personal devices from an onboard server through wireless access points. Rockwell Collins says the server is robust and easy to refresh. Content is selected by flight departments from a cloud-based media catalog, which is updated frequently. The content can be loaded on to the aircraft server in a variety of ways, physically and wirelessly.
“Stage makes prepping an aircraft’s cabin entertainment for a trip much easier – especially when last-minute changes are necessary – to give passengers access to exactly the entertainment and information they want,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, information systems, Rockwell Collins. “And since this a subscription-based service, passengers won’t have to worry about making inflight content purchases.”
Stage apps for iOS and Android tablets and smartphones are available from their online stores and the Android Stage app is also available on the cabin server for download without an internet connection. On tablets without the app, Stage content can be accessed via web browsers including Chrome.
Rockwell Collins licenses content for Stage from Hollywood studios and other content owners. Personal, non-DRM content can be uploaded to the Stage cloud and made available for passengers to stream.
November 20, 2015
