By Natasha Lomas, 25 March 2008 12:35
NEWS
Emirates airline has launched the world's first commercial in-flight mobile telephone service and will spend $27m to kit out its entire fleet with the technology.
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The first authorised in-flight mobile call was made at 30,000ft on 21 March on Emirates flight EK751 flying between Dubai and Casablanca. The Airbus A340-300 has been equipped with an in-flight mobile system from UK-based company AeroMobile.
The AeroMobile system automatically activates once the aircraft reaches 20,000ft. A video then informs passengers they can turn their mobile phones on. Passengers then receive a free text from AeroMobile telling them to switch their mobiles to 'silent' mode out of courtesy to their fellow passengers.
Calls can be made and received while the plane is at cruising altitude. The service also allows text messages to be sent and received. The system allows for a maximum of five or six calls to be made at once. Passengers using AeroMobile will be charged a premium roaming rate.
Emirates said a second aircraft in its fleet is due to be equipped with the in-flight mobile system shortly.
The airline, which signed up to the AeroMobile system back in 2006 and already offers phone calls, email and text messaging via an in-seat entertainment system across its entire fleet, said it will spend $27m to fit out its fleet with AeroMobile.
Emirates and AeroMobile said they are working to add the ability to receive BlackBerry email and other GPRS data applications to the system later this year.
Comments
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1. Matthew Bewers
Marvellous! I knew that it would happen eventually - now no long-waiting family member or active businessman may be starved of keeping in touch on the move and in the air. So long as the price of flights doesn't increase substantially, I think it's a worthwhile investment!
2. Daz
Marvellous. I knew it would happen eventually. Now those few hours of peace and quiet - about the only place around the planet where you could escape the dreaded Nokia ringtone - will be shattered with more talk, the endless keypad beeps from texters and people who believe that because they are at 30,000 ft they need to shout even louder.
Don't get me wrong - I love the technology. But did this last island really need a mobile phone facility? I'm sure wi-fi, for the laptop users, would be sufficient.
3. Fred Dibnah
Does this mean I can now play the PlayStation Portable while flying too?
4. anonymous
Most devices now allow you to do all their functions in flight mode, so the only real advantage is the send and recieve element.
Hopefully the premium charges won't make that too prohibitive.
5. anonymous
I fail to see how this will benefit anyone other than the screamingly egotistical, selfish and arrogant. Oh, and the excessively indulged children who demand the right to show off to their friends.