Enterprise Nation

Alex Johnson, of the insanely brilliant Shedworking blog, has pointed us to a US news story that announces the trial of a new kind of '3rd place' - 40,000 feet in the air.

As if 'Snakes on a Plane' wasn't frightening enough, US airline company, JetBlue has this week announced the trial of a new free wi-fi service on its Airbus A320.

That's right, readers. There is now - officially - nowhere to run, nowhere to hide from your e-mail!

The service will allow passengers on selected routes to check e-mail, use their BlackBerrys and instant message.

The technology works by allowing the plane to connect to hundreds of cell towers around the US. In theory, JetBlue could use the same technology to allow passengers to use their mobile phones in flight, but the airline has mercifully decided against it.

"People don't want that," JetBlue founder and chairman, David Neeleman says. "Half of them hating it is too big a risk."

So, while our American counterparts may soon be logging onto e-mail in the sky, they won't be able to phone home just yet. Just as well, I say. If there's anything scarier than snakes on a plane, it's an American on a cell phone on a five-hour flight. – San Sharma

• BlackBerrys on a Plane - [TIME.com
  via Shedworking]