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player ready...Itasca-based inflight Internet company Gogo is rolling out Wi-Fi texting in the air, but only for select customers.
Those with T-Mobile’s new “Un-carrier” service will be able to text on Gogo’s Wi-Fi at no additional charge starting Sept. 17. People without T-Mobile will not be able to text in-flight.
Cell phone users will have to keep their phones in airplane mode and connect to Gogo Wi-Fi. When they launch a browser, they’ll be prompted to verify that they’re a T-Mobile customer.
T-Mobile said in a release that all of its smart phones moving forward will be Wi-Fi calling and texting enabled. A spokesman declined to say when customers with other cell phone service providers might be able to text in-flight.
Gogo stock was up 10 percent, or $1.70, Thursday afternoon.