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Cell Phones On Planes Could Leave Your Head Ringing
September 25, 2008 10:50 AM
By PHILIP VICTOR, ABC News London
Looking for a quiet journey to your next destination? Hoping to pass the time dreaming about the island paradise you will encounter upon landing? How about a nice, relaxing onboard nap? Well you’re in for quite the wake-up call or more accurately—calls!
The Irish budget airline Ryan Air is the latest carrier to launch mobile phone service on 14 of its aircraft. It will be implemented in the next few weeks.
So what is this new technology and how does it work?
Charlie Pryor, a spokesman for On Air, a company specializing in developing and operating in-flight passenger communications services, spoke with ABC News. Pryor said that the machinery behind the scheme isn’t necessarily new and innovative, it’s the use of the technology in different ways. Passengers will be able to use their phones thanks to a picocell that will be fitted into the plane.
“A picocell is a device that collects a cell phone signals and routes them to the ground,” Pryor said.
With the picocell now fitted in the aircraft, cell phones will not have to search for a network signal on the ground.
On Air, whose system debuted in Air France last year, is currently working with 13 carriers including BMI (British Midland), TAP Portugal and other Middle Eastern and Asian carriers. The company, formed in 2005, specializes in developing and operating in-flight passenger communications services.
So why are airlines taking flight into this new market? Pryor surmises it’s a “combination of passenger demand and the airlines.”
Passengers have been told time and time again that they are to switch off mobile phones and other electronics during takeoff and landing. What allows this new project to remain safe?
Pryor explained that the reason for the safety precautions was the effect of distance in relation to cell phone base station.
“The cell phone while seeking a signal was a long way from the base station, emitting a high power signal,” Pryor told ABC News.
The strength of the signal was in direct relation to how hard the phone was trying to find a base station. With the picocell on board, that is no longer a problem.
And the old safety precautions of phones being turned off during takeoff and landing will still be in place.
“Phones will be switched off below 10,000 feet,” Pryor said.
The phone service will certainly not be cheap. Early estimations put the figure at about $3.70 a minute. Pryor said however that the rate will ultimately come down to the passenger’s cell phone service provider.
What about annoyances and policing of cell phones on board?
“Aircrafts are noisy anyway,” said Pryor, adding that the picocell will only allow six simultaneous calls and that the calls likely won’t last too long. Why not? At $3.70 a minute on a budget airline, who will be able to afford anything longer than a “Honey I’m on the plane. Bye!”
Certainly hordes of cell phone users aboard a plane could be a nightmare in waiting for some. That is unless they too are on their cell phones.
Bottom line, if you dread that you may find your next flight mobile enabled, be sure to pack your iPod in your carry-on!
September 25, 2008 in Philip Victor | Permalink | User Comments (12)
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Allow phones on planes? I strongly vote NO! It's noisy enough as it is without adding more inane conversations to the ones we currently have to endure. Those that need to communicate while in the air could be allowed to use email, but if you allow phones, the rest of us will have to listen to hours of personal conversations that we should not have to hear. If anyone doubts it, just hang out at the airport terminal waiting for a flight and listen to all the chatter. All that will just continue on the plane.
Posted by: paul ramsey | Sep 25, 2008 12:45:21 PM
If they're allowed to talk, I should be allowed to smoke (and I'm not even a smoker!)
Posted by: Lee | Sep 25, 2008 1:28:29 PM
NO! The last thing I want to hear is some yacking on their phone. I don't want to hear someone's personal business, some parent b!ching out their kids, an arrogant b@$trd pretending to conduct high level business, etc. I want to sit in quiet. It's bad enough the way things are on a plane now. Don't make it worse by allowing cell phones. If someone's life is sooo on the edge that they have to stay in contact that intimately, then they shouldn't be on a plane
Posted by: Ken | Sep 25, 2008 2:44:34 PM
Not a chance. It is not the right of cell phone owners to blabber, curse, and talk non-stop while other people try to get a little bit of peace. Our society is already so out of control. We are so rude and ignorant. PLEASE! Just let the ride on the plane be quiet and spare us the other passengers. I don't want to listen to cell phone caller personal business or otherwise!
Posted by: LastUnicorn | Sep 25, 2008 5:05:14 PM
NO! This is a really bad idea. Airlines better be ready for a lot of violence and on-board brawling. The only decision left is whether to smash the remains of the cell phone up the nose or down the throat...
Posted by: Sqeaver | Sep 25, 2008 6:48:48 PM
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO Cell Phones on the airplanes !!!!!! No text messages no no no. People have enough of that stuff on the ground. With text messaging you would hear all the stupid ring tones that people have set up for incomming text messaging and people have to talk loud enough to be heard over the planes engines as it is. Add 30-40 people on cell phones and the Pilot will be jumping out of the cockpit for his own sanity.
Posted by: Darlene Ong | Sep 25, 2008 6:57:04 PM
Sqeaver's solution gets my vote.
Taking the plane has become such an unpleasant experience I now drive ( even with high gas $) to any place I can. It takes 45 minutes by plane (excluding the two hours at the airport) to go down and visit family. It's 4 1/2 hours by car , we drive it's a lot more pleasant.
Posted by: Geek | Sep 25, 2008 7:09:24 PM
I think it's a good idea, at least if that plane got highjacked, you could call the US embassy.
Posted by: Victoria Ross | Sep 25, 2008 8:29:25 PM
NO NO NO this is the worst idea. Travel has become so stressful as is, can't imagine having to listen to extremely rude boorish people talking the whole trip.
Posted by: adriana1455 | Sep 26, 2008 10:46:17 AM
This is a good thing. In the event that terrorists hijack your plane, you could call family members, the airlines or government agencies, maybe even the Solicitor General--to let them know and ask for advice.
Posted by: neo | Sep 27, 2008 11:04:25 AM
Man...cellphones on airplanes...they're already annoying enough everywhere else. This is an awesome article!
Posted by: Malini | Sep 28, 2008 2:02:13 PM
Please tell me this isn't happening... One of the most annoying things is having to listen to someone's cell phone conversation...
(Wonderful writing =D)
Posted by: Rach | Oct 7, 2008 5:08:56 PM
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