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Delta Air Lines has completed a deal with Microsoft, Avanade and AT&T that will see over 19,000 of its flight attendants use Windows Phone 8 devices.
Attendants will use the Nokia Lumia 820 to process customer payments mid-flight, arrange e-receipts, read coupons displayed on a customer’s mobile device (in the future) and more, to "streamline on-board purchasing".
The agreement includes plans to expand the solution over the next three years to include the newest Nokia devices.
The Windows Phone 8 devices have been tailored for Delta staff by Avanade using the Microsoft Dynamics for Retail mobile point-of sale platform. It will operate over Wi-Fi and AT&T’s 4G LTE Network.
The solution was developed after months of development and feedback from flight attendants.
"Delta’s 19,000 in-flight professionals are there for the safety and comfort of our customers, and equipping them with innovative solutions means they can better meet our customers’ needs on board every flight," said Joanne Smith, Delta’s senior vice president for In-Flight Service.
"This is yet another way we’re investing in technology to improve the customer experience."
The new handheld device is Delta’s latest investment in technology, following its Fly Delta app for iPad, the launch of a new delta.com website in December 2012 and revamped self-service kiosks in September 2012. Delta also offers Delta also offers in-flight Wi-Fi on board more than 800 aircraft.
