Air France Green Lights Mobile Phones in 2007
Toby [speaking to a stewardess about his pager]: We're flying in a Lockheed Eagle Series L-1011. Came off the line twenty months ago. Carries a Sim-5 transponder tracking system, and you're telling me I can still flummox this thing with something I bought at Radio Shack? From The West Wing.
According to Upgrade, Air France will permit cell phone usage on new planes being delivered next year:
The aircraft will offer onboard mobile phone service on short-haul flights within Europe and to and from North African destinations as part of a commercial test from March to September 2007, Air France and its technology partners Airbus SAS and Sita said yesterday.
The aircraft will be equipped with technology provided by OnAir, a joint venture owned by Airbus and SITA, which aims to provide a range of communication services such as telephony, email and web surfing to passengers.
It's about time. I must confess that I've never made a call from one of those in-flight phones–I've always assumed they cost a fortune. But, hey, what about roaming charges? Do I pay more if I'm at a higher altitude? And how's coverage over the mid-Atlantic?
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