NEWS Using mobile phones on planes is set to become a reality from as soon as next year - and an all-too-familiar sight by 2010.
Consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton said the market is now ripe for the development of in-flight phone calls and a number of airlines are predicted to offer such a service from 2006.
Booz Allen Hamilton is predicting the services will start to experience substantial growth from 2008, with annual growth rates of between 30 and 60 per cent. By 2010, there will be 100 million people using the service, according to the consultancy, generating €2bn within Europe alone by the end of the decade.
The growth in the market will run in parallel to call prices lowering, although costs will initially remain higher than usual roaming tariffs. Price per minute is expected to be €1 when services are introduced, sinking to between €0.75 and €0.50.
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1. Martin Lukes
That's fantastic insight - the service has just become available so conditions are ripe for growth. Totally amazing. I really wish I got paid for such deep analysis.
2. Roger M
I dont fancy a long flight sitting next to a loud mouth shouting down a mobile phone whilst I'm trying to get some peace and quiet.
I belive that some airlines will still ban phones not for technology reasons but to prevent "Phone Rage"!
Trains are bad enough!
3. anonymous
I recently had discussions with some Boeing representatives on this very subject. The greatest concern of the airlines in releasing this service is that phone users will disturbe other passengers. Some airlines are considering only activiting the service in the lounge area of the Airbus A380.
I for one do not want to get on a long-haul flight with the guy next to me talking loudly to his colleagues about the price of widgets.