The days of switching off mobile phones in-flight appear numbered

[Kurt A]

New technologies take flight

The days of switching off mobile phones in-flight appear numbered, with new breakthroughs by Qantas and Emirates.

Qantas will allow passengers to send and receive email and SMS messages in-flight from later this year.

Qantas has spent months trialling the technology that will allow customers to send and receive email and SMS via mobile phone or personal electronic device.

An overwhelming majority of passengers involved in the evaluation indicated they wanted access to in-flight connectivity on an ongoing basis, Qantas Executive General Manager John Borghetti said.
The technology will initially be installed on a number of domestic B767-300 and A330-200 aircraft.

Customers wanting to send or receive an SMS will require only a GSM phone and a global roaming account, while customers wanting to send or receive emails will need a GPRS enabled device like a Blackberry or an appropriately equipped laptop.

The announcement has come at the same time Emirates airlines became the first carrier in the world to commercially launch an in-flight mobile phone service.

Emirates told media that the first authorised mobile telephone call made from a commercial flight was made from an Emirates Airbus A340-300 aircraft travelling from Dubai to Casablanca last Thursday.

The aircraft is the first in the airline's fleet to be fitted with the AeroMobile system, which ensures mobile telephones operate at minimum power during flights so as to not interfere with aircraft electronics, AFP reported.

- Travelpress

[Ash W]

I wonder what the costs of the system will be? As I understand it, the plane is like an "overseas" carrier, hence why the phones need to be able to roam. Considering the ground link will be satellite I would imagine the costs would be quite high.

[David M]

Recently, Rex changed their policy regarding the use of inflight-mode capable phones onboard. Rex used to not allow any phones switched on, from the point of boarding until back in the arrival terminal.

One can now use inflight-mode once the seatbelt sign is switched off inflight, until seatbelt sign is switched back on.

Cheers

David.M.

[D Chan]

the whole thing is probably designed to allow business travellers with blackberrys to stay connected - this will help them a lot!

[Kurt A]

Emirates calls a world first

Emirates is the first airline in the world to commercially launch an inflight mobile telephone service, affording even greater convenience to passengers wishing to stay connected while travelling.

The first authorised mobile phone call made from a commercial flight was made today at 30,000ft enroute to Casablanca, onboard an Emirates Airbus A340-300 aircraft - the first in the airline’s fleet to be equipped with the AeroMobile system.

The innovative airline will be investing some US$27 million to fit its fleet with the AeroMobile system which ensures that passenger mobile phones operate at their absolute minimum power, thereby allowing their safe use on the aircraft. A second Emirates aircraft, a Boeing 777-300, has already been installed with the AeroMobile system and will be in operation very shortly.

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: "All seats across our fleet are already equipped with in-seat phones, as well as email and text messaging capabilities via the in-seat entertainment system.

“As the world leader in innovation for our customers, we are delighted to now offer them the choice of using their own mobile phones to contact friends, family or colleagues while flying with us. Our customers are already making more than 7,000 calls a month from our in-seat phones, so we will be making life easier for those for whom staying in touch has become an important part of their everyday lives.”

Over the past 18 months, Emirates and AeroMobile has worked closely with regulators and telecommunications providers across the globe, fully completing rigorous testing and certification processes.

The service will only be activated when the aircraft is at cruising altitude and the cabin crew will have full control over the system, including the ability to prevent voice calls at certain times such as during night flights. The number of calls that may be made at any one time is also limited to a maximum of five or six calls, the same number as for the current in-seat phones used regularly by Emirates' passengers.

Emirates cabin staff and information videos will advise and encourage passengers to switch their phones to silent or vibrate mode when used in the aircraft.

In addition to calls, the service will also allow passengers to send and receive text messages, with charges in line with premium international roaming rates. Users will be billed on their regular phone bills by their own service providers as with any other roaming call.

AeroMobile chief executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg said: “We are delighted to join Emirates in delivering a genuine world first for the airline industry. Emirates has set an industry-leading standard for passengers communications in launching AeroMobile services. We know that many airlines are interested in AeroMobile and will be keen to follow Emirates’ lead.

"We believe that the ability to communicate efficiently, easily and safely when on board flights will become an every-day feature of business and leisure travel very quickly. We have gone to considerable lengths to ensure that all safety and regulatory issues have been fully addressed, so we are pleased that Emirates has been able to join us in being first past the post in offering a full voice call service.”

Emirates and AeroMobile will be working to add further features to the benefit of Emirates’ passengers. These include the ability for BlackBerry®-type email and other GPRS data applications later in 2008 and also to integrate AeroMobile with Emirates’ award-winning ICE inflight entertainment system.

On aircraft where the AeroMobile system is not installed, existing rules banning the use of mobile phones by passengers remain in force at all times. Mobile phones must remain switched off for the duration of the flight in accordance with current aviation regulatory requirements, and passengers must continue to follow the instructions of the cabin staff at all times regarding the use of mobile phones and other portable electronic devices.

-emirates

[Steve McGinley]

What a shame, the last known place on earth to escape from that incessant mobile phone noise, will be soon gone.

[Grant Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve McGinley

What a shame, the last known place on earth to escape from that incessant mobile phone noise, will be soon gone.

And that's why "noise cancelling" headphones were developed