Graybeard
Update2:: A typical ACARS/ATSU/ACOM message at 2.4kbits/sec using the Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network would use less than 128bytes of bandwidth (the average email is 3Kb), but to that you need to add the message headers etc., so allow for 512bytes per session. Note: traditional ACARS message size was 3,300 characters (maximum). With increasing use of the system for transmission of WX data/images etc., compression and data encoding protocols have now been introduced.
Bearing in mind the small bandwidth being utilized for an ACOM transmission coupled with Fleet Rate packages, we are now talking 20c per message. In the AF447 case, this would equate to say 4 hours at 1 per minute = 240 x 20c or US$48.
I'm sure there is someone out there who could validate this - one way or the other.
mm43