Panasonic Avionics Corporation, the world leader in state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment and communication (IFEC) systems, today announced the availability of its Global Communications Suite to business aircraft at the annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) conference in Orlando.

Panasonic's Global Communications Suite offers enhanced connectivity and productivity for business flyers through a combination of the following services: eXConnect, eXPhone, and the Panasonic Airborne Television Network. The suite provides the bandwidth to support virtually any service business passengers require, including simultaneous voice, Internet, VPN, live television and video conferencing.

Panasonic is in discussions with multiple customers who operate aircraft including the Boeing Business Jet, Airbus Corporate Jet, Embraer 135, B747, and the B777.

Panasonic's Global Communications Suite consists of the following solutions:

• Panasonic eXConnect – This global, two-way broadband solution will provide high-speed connectivity to the aircraft supporting data rates up to 50Mbps.

• Panasonic eXPhone – Together with Panasonic's service partner, AeroMobile, eXPhone enables passengers to make and receive calls and SMS text messages with their personal mobile phones, and use GPRS-based devices such as BlackBerry®.

• eXTraBandwidth – This solution provides a tiered offering of guaranteed, consistent bandwidth for high quality communications, such as dedicated voice, video conferencing and other bandwidth-critical applications.

• Panasonic Airborne Television Network – This private, global network will provide real-time broadcast TV programming delivering live news, sports, business/finance, weather, and entertainment via a proprietary, encrypted satellite feed. The Panasonic Airborne Television Network will be the first aviation satellite television product to deliver a consistent viewing experience on a global basis.

"Having broadband access to the Internet, broadcast satellite TV and the use of personal mobile devices is crucial to today's business executive," said Paul Margis, Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Avionics Corporation. "With our Global Communications Suite, Panasonic will be providing a truly global solution with major improvements in connectivity bandwidth, television capabilities, and mobile device support providing business executives with the performance and capabilities they desire."