NEWS
Airlines have been given a clear message about their plans to enable mobile phone calls on airplanes - the people really don't want it to happen.
A poll of more than 1,100 silicon.com readers found an overwhelming 75 per cent think allowing mobile phone calls on planes will be incredibly annoying.
A further 15 per cent of respondents said they believe it will add to instances of air rage - concerns echoed by pilots and passengers alike.
silicon.com reader Glen Whelan wrote: "It would be a nightmare with calls coming in and being made throughout the journey in a very enclosed space. I say we leave it as it is, no calls during flights, and not take any risks with the flight or the air rage potentials."
Only six per cent of respondents said they believe allowing mobile calls will be a good idea, while four per cent believe it won't make much difference.
An airline pilot with one large UK carrier told silicon.com very few passengers currently use phones installed in arm rests, suggesting there are few calls that need to be made during flights. However, removing even the slightest hurdle of inconvenience could tempt some out of their silence.
So far, plans for on-board mobile services revolve around installing pico cells, which will allow incoming calls to be received on users' own handsets and outbound calls to be cheaper - $2.50 per minute has been mooted - than current 'armrest' handsets.
The small percentage of passengers who approve of the idea may still be tempted to risk the ire of other passengers rather than fight the temptation not to play with their own phone.
Another silicon.com reader, Steve M, wrote: "What an awful idea. Apart from a few business flyers that would find the phone useful I can't believe that members of the public going on their hols can't wait until they get to the other side to make a call.
"I am just stunned that it is even being considered."
Comments
There are 12 comments. Join the discussion
1. chris eldred
If the airlines sniff a margin in this, thats it, maybe they will charge extra for non phone seats?
2. Guy Harris
I agree that phones for business are good but on a plane would be horrible. The noise level on a plane is high enough without the "I'm ON THE PLANE!" - The one thing that would be good is broadband - that would be the best use of the technology!
3. DAn Smith
I would suggest it is being considered not from the customer service perspective of the passenger, more for another profit centre for the airline.
4. Charles Smith
SMS messages only would be a reasonable compromise. Personally I would hate to spend 3 hours stuck next to the one sided conversation of a Mobiphile. With the noise of the aircraft they are bound to speak loudly.
What about overnight flights when people are trying to sleep. The Cabin Staff would have to carry a medical bag equipped with tongs so that they can retrieve mobiles stuffed in uncomfortable places by annoyed co-passengers.
5. Rob Garner
WiFi would be a much better/quieter use of the technology like Guy Harris said. This would provide the connection 6% crave whilst leaving the majority in peace.
6. Mark Snedecor
Why not make this a win-win-win situation for Airlines and Telecoms that want revenue from phone use during flight, people who want to use phones during flight, and those who DON'T want to hear someone chatting for two hours shoulder to shoulder? All the Airlines must do is make a rule to only allow cell phone use during flight if on of these Conversation Privatizer devices were used: www.ZipItInc.com
7. Dr. Del Morgan
Limiting such communication to text only would be an improvement, if on-board technology could somehow overcome the challenge of scrambling access to voice without affecting text. Failing that, I would be for a total ban. Install systems on all aircraft that would automatically scramble any attempted calls ....
8. Malcolm Parker
Timely (??) for this to be included in the Round-up references the day after the widespread ban on even carrying your mobile onto an aeroplane
9. Richard
Suddenly, strangely irrelevant: A week is a long time...
10. alastair warren
For many won't this be one more reason to avoid making that journey, and getting on that plane if at all possible?
So how are the airlines going to get this going given the suspected plot of 10th August 2006?
Does the need to make calls, or the need for the airlines to make this revenue really outweigh the potential loss of security?
Is your need to make an inflight mobile phone call really greater than my need to arrive safely at my destination?
11. Andrew Lewis
I have to agree with Guy Harris.
Mobile phones on planes would be a disaster. Anything that could increase the risk of air rage should not even be considered as an onboard option.
Most general public passengers do not have sufficient need for a phone on a plane. Business travellers could benefit greatly from email inflight without annoying other passengers in an enclosed space. You can have hpone calls diverted to answering services that will forward on as an email.
The thought of flying somewhere with potentially maybe 200+ phones ringing at the same time is my idea of hell especially coupled with some people discussing what the airline food tastes like with their friends back at home!
I would love to meet the idiot who put this idea forward as a good idea. I would certainly show my contempt by inserting this persons cellphone in somewhere they might consider rather uncomfotable.
Put the person forward for prat of the year.
12. anonymous
A mobile phone to trigger a device? - I don't think so! Having come through the strict airport regulations last week, and understanding the potential of IT use, I really do not think any type of communication is conducive to safety.
Quite apart from my dislike my overhearing other people's conversations, I so DISLIKE hearing the 'Person looking for an Ego Boost when trying to impress' - that is so, so sad!