Sky-Cell Phones: A Reality at Last
Air France is set to become the first Airline in the world to unveil a new “skyphone service” on March 6th, 2007. If you want to be technical, what Air France will do is operate a six-month “trial run” period aboard an Air France Airbus 318 – which operates between Europe and North Africa. Other airline’s like British Midland and the Lisbon’s Tap Airlines will unveil similar Skyphone services in late 2007/early 2008.
The difference between the Air France Skyphone service and an on-board cell phone that passengers must use along with a credit card, is that on the Airbus passengers can use their own cell phones. The cell phone’s roaming device will automatically pick up the signal of “OnAir” a French service-provider that launched just one year ago specifically for use in-flight cell phone calls. At that point the passenger picks up a dial tone, make a phone call and be charged 2 euro per minute. The charge will be reflected on their next bill.
The catch here – in layman’s terms – is that the Airbus must be equipped with flight-specific radio transmission and receiver equipment that will bounce signals of a satellite, which in turn will enable passengers to make a phone call without interfering with normal flight operations. AirFrance is guaranteeing in-flight calls via cell phone will not cause any problems.
Critics argue that the ability to make in-flight phone calls will ruin the aesthetic beauty of flying on a plane. At most, point out naysayers, cell phone use will be a pain in the neck for anyone trying to take a nap or read a book.
Air France counters the criticism by saying it may restrict phone calls to specific hours of its flights. And that passengers will be asked to fill out a questionnaire that will help gauge the popularity or lack-there-of for using a cell phone while flying high.
Now, if you’ve ever spent much time in an airport in any European city you know that cell phone use is as common an occurrence as going to the bathroom or exchanging currency. In fact, research has shown that most people use their cell phones more as a status symbol and less as a tool to make a phone call that’s necessary. People just want to look important – kind of like, “Hey look at me, I’m talking on my cell phone!” When in all actuality the individual is reminding their spouse to buy milk, or put gas in the car. So you can imagine the novelty of making the same type of phone call (“Honey, I just thought I’d call to say I love you while we fly over Morocco!) when you’re flying 20,000 feet in the air. Some one hand me a pair of headphones, please!
But I digress. Cell phone access on an airplane will surely make the world seem a little bit smaller, while at the same time ensuring that individuals can communicate just about anywhere. And you can be sure that Airline companies will be watching with a keen eye how the Air France SkyPhone trial run plays out.
