in flight calling
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JetBlue looking to offer text messaging to passengers
Now that Qantas fliers will be able to get their texts on while in midair, that same capability may soon be coming to JetBlue. It seems that cellular voice conversations are out while in flight these days, but with millions using text messaging, who cares -- right? Anyhoo, JetBlue needs a PR shot in the arm after its flight cancellations fiasco a few months ago, and this may be a way to bandage that black eye. Hey, the carrier has some spectrum to use, so why not use it? With the regional U.S. air carrier having been the first U.S. carrier to offer in-flight live television programing, we're hoping that in-flight SMS is not far behind. [Via textually.org]
Qantas' in-flight mobile trial ready to go
Want to be asked to"switch on" that mobile handset on our next flight from or to Australia? You may be in luck if Qantas' public in-flight wireless trial bears fruit soon. While the FCC still cannot determine whether cellphones cause interference with ground-to-flight communication networks, Qantas is barreling right ahead with a trial. We have to ask: FCC -- what is the deal? C'mon guys -- we're sure some folks have used cellphones while flying and no planes have fallen from the sky as a result. It's been years and years and no movement. Sigh. Anyway, another kinda-important detail from Qantas: the in-flight mobile trial is for wireless email and text messaging only. The airline operator doesn't want rude fliers screaming into their handsets just yet.
FCC hits brakes on in-flight calling (for now)
The seemingly never-ending "will they or won't they" saga involving the FCC, the FAA, airlines, mobile carriers, and the extraordinarily annoying plane passenger sitting next to you has taken another unexpected turn this week. On the heels of a CTIA study suggesting that so-called "picocells" placed on planes to communicate with phones won't completely eliminate paralyzing interference with ground towers, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin suggesting that the feds should hold off on lifting the in-flight calling ban. Apparently, the big issue revolves around phones operating on bands that aren't supported by the installed picocell; in the absence of that local communication, the handset goes right back to mussin' and fussin' with the traditional towers several miles below -- potentially with disastrous effects to the network and other users, never mind the fact that no one's managed to conclusively prove that aircraft systems won't be affected. For what it's worth, the chairman's suggestion is just that -- a suggestion -- and doesn't prevent the agency's commissioners from approving the move anyway. While we're the first to agree that the thought of a couple hundred passengers yakking away in tight quarters is a starkly frightening one, we're not sure it's the FCC's place to be legislating away annoyances -- let the feds do their technical due diligence, we say. Word has it the picocells can be tweaked to fix the CTIA's concerns, and if that holds up, airlines will decide individually whether to let customers dial (or, at the very least, access data services) mid-flight. From there, we'll all be voting with our dollars.[Via Techdirt]
Ryanair, Qantas (finally) adding in-flight calling!
We've got good news for frequent fliers in Europe and Australia: Qantas and Ryanair (this author's personal fav airline for obvious reason) have announced their respective additions of picocells for in-flight calling, texting, and presumably (eventually) also data. Qantas Boeing 767s and Ryanair 737s will begin rolling out AirBus subsidiary OnAir's cellular satellite uplinked connections to their customers as early as June or July 2007 in Ryanair's case, with full rollout on that fleet expected in 2008. We don't know how much further behind launch Qantas is, but obviously they've stated their intentions to enter the in-flight cell arena, so it's only a matter of time. Too bad that Connexion was scrapped just when things are looking up for future-thinking fliers, but maybe, just maybe we finally can all throw out the ages-old argument of cellphones being dangerous for use in flight.P.S. -Uh, please don't whip out your phones in flight. You do realize that it's still illegal in the US right? Use your phone on a plane that's not parked or taxiing and the FAA and TSA might disembowel you on the spot for the infraction. Kthxbye.Read - QantasRead - Ryanair
ASiQ promises safe in-flight cellphone use
If ASiQ has its way, worries about cellphones bringing down airplanes could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to its still well-guarded system that would let passengers make in-flight calls using their own phone. They're being stingy with deets on account of their patent status, but what we do know is that the system will consist of a device that's connected to your cellphone by either a cable or Bluetooth connection, and that it'll supposedly work with GSM, CDMA, UMTS and EDGE. It also won't be free, of course, but ASiQ says it'll be inexpensive. What's more, they claim they've managed to address the privacy concerns of other people on the plane. We still think the Cone of Silence is the answer, but we're guessing they've cooked up something decidedly less cool (and probably less effective).[Via textually.org]
