Interview with Virgin America's Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson is a bit of an adventurer, something of a gadget freak, and a very, very rich man. His Virgin Group runs everything from record shops and mobile phone providers to airlines and hot air balloons. Last week, he came to the United States to celebrate the first flight of Virgin America, a sort of high-end low-cost airline that is currently making very limited flights out of New York's JFK airport, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and a few cities. Engadget was aboard and had the opportunity to ask the man about the technology on the new planes, the success of Virgin Mobile in the US, and even the thought of people yakking on their cell phones during the entire flight:
Engadget: We know Internet is in the works for Virgin America, coming in 2008, what about the "dreaded" possibility of in-flight cellphone usage that is so debated currently?
Branson: Well, the Internet, I'm delighted to say, we're going to introduce next year, and I think that once we have the Internet, I don't think phones will be that needed. I think people will be able to communicate with people on the ground through the Internet. We've gotten phone in Virgin Atlantic and we find they don't get used that much, but there is enormous demand for Internet, and that's why we're rushing ahead for that.
For the rest of the interview, go to Engadget.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
roy @ Sep 27th 2007 11:31AM
The sun beams down billions of btus per day I have invented an air conditioning system that converts this energy into cold air ,hot water and heat. For a 1500sqft residence it would cost $3000, no electric bill and no billions of tons of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere. It would work in a tent in the desert. It would cost about $5000 to make and install a working prototype. I do not have a patent but have checked the patent office and there is nothing remotely like it.It would also work in a car, but having been a engine research engineer for years that would be a formidable legal battle. I have been trying all over to get funds or have someone pick up the ball and so far no luck sound to good to be true but I can tell you I had the first simple version of this running twenty years ago and I could make freezing cold water out in the open sun. It is far more efficient that PV systems which are 10% efficient less than half of the time and the rest of the time they are zero efficient. If you could help I would really appreciate it.