Three major U.S. airlines will soon sign up as the first customers for Boeing Co.'s Connexion in-flight e-mail and Internet service, the Wall Street Journal online reported.

Boeing is close to announcing agreements with United Airlines, American and Delta to start limited testing, the newspaper reported, citing industry sources.

In a separate interview with Reuters, Boeing spokesman Terrance Scott said the company is talking to about international 30 airlines and expects to make announcements at or before a major air show in Paris beginning June 16. Boeing is negotiating with Lufthansa and Continental Airlines.

Rival Tenzing Communications, which offers cheaper-to-install, more modest technology, has several international customers setting up the service on a portion of their fleets.

Tenzing has so far signed up Singapore Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Cathay Pacific.