AeroMobile Limited, the London Gatwick-based provider of in-flight mobile phone connectivity services, has been placed into administration with the need to secure new funding.
One of the administrators, Malcolm Cohen of BDO Stoy Hayward, said the priority is to sell the business as a going concern; and will continue to trade in the meantime.
All 60 employees are to remain at the firm, which was formed in 2003 as a joint venture between Arinc and Telenor. Telenor now owns 99.88% of AeroMobile, and Arinc owns only 0.12%.
Telenor, the Norway-based telecommunications company, is interested in making a bid for the business, and has obtained funding for the mobile company during the administration process.
Other potential bidders are thought to include Panasonic, which brands AeroMobile's hardware as eXPhone, and OnAir, a rival in-flight connectivity provider.
AeroMobile is currently equipping Emirates' fleet with its in-flight mobile connectivity technology, which is unaffected by the move into administration.
In a statement Emirates said: "We, and our passengers, have been delighted with the development of the AeroMobile service, which is now operating on 65 of our aircraft". In 2010, AeroMobile is to continue implementing its technology throughout Emirates' fleet.
The company's revenue for the year to 31 December 2008 was recorded as £278k and its pre-tax profits - £12.786m.
