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World's first in-flight mobile phone service launched

jack44 | 09 January, 2008 14:20

Although I expected that Ryanair will be the first to offer in-flight mobile phone service on international flights, it looks that Air France has become the first airline to offer the service on select international flights. As stated, using the Mobile OnAir system, when the new "no mobiles" light is switched off, passengers travelling on board of one of the Airbus A318 aircraft operating European routes can now send and receive SMS and MMS messages as well as send and receive e-mails via all phones with internet access. During the second half of the six month trial, passengers will also be able to make and receive phone calls, with the service being regulated to maintain passengers' comfort and well-being.

How does it work?

Mobile phones connect to a miniature cellular network installed inside this aircraft. A modem transmits data and calls to a satellite that routes them to a ground station. Data and calls are then routed to the passenger’s usual telephone network. This network is located inside the aircraft. Passengers’ mobile phones only emit at minimum power, which does not risk harming interference with aircraft avionics or ground telecoms network.
As you can expect, phones are used just like on the ground. To make a call on board the aircraft, passengers simply dial the international prefix (+) or 00 + country code + full number (without the 0). The cost of data exchanges are invoiced by the customers’ telephone operator and are comparable to those used for normal international mobile phone calls.

OnAir system supports 2.5G, but let's hope they will upgrade it to 3G soon (and in-flight wi-fi?) and that the network is really safe (not like this one).

Have you already used described service? Your thoughts are welcome...