Cell SMS in Planes on Trial Down-Under

jetkins writes "Just days after the FCC announced that the use of cellular phones would be officially banned onboard aircraft in the USA, ZDNet reports that Australian airline Qantas is to undertake a three-month trail of a new in-flight cellular service. Initially installed on a single aircraft, the system utilizes technology from British company Aeromobile, providing a miniature GSM 'tower' within the aircraft cabin. Since GSM phones dynamically adjust their transmit power, being in such close proximity to the tower means that phones will emit only minimal RF. The system operates as a separate 'country', meaning phones must be enabled for international roaming and calls are charged at international roaming rates. During the trial at least, only SMS, MMS, and GPRS (data) traffic will be allowed; voice calls will be blocked."

Oh, good!

[Otter]

The only two words that could possibly improve "Sitting on a flight while the idiot next to you yammers into his cell phone the whole time" are "...to Australia..."!

Honestly, listening to the conversations at the gate ("Bob, could you print out the email to Stacy and fax it to Linda? And could you ask Debbie to scan the fax from Jeff and email it to Julio?") I mostly wonder how these people have jobs at all, let alone ones that can afford air travel.

"Voice Calls Will be Blocked"

[Zero_DgZ]

So nobody can call authorities during a 9/11 style emergency. They just have to text it out.

hlp flt 423 they r in r plane kling r dudes

The Mile high club...

[Mockylock]

Just the idea of "Roaming down-under" in a plane reminds me of a bad porn flick.

Won't somebody

[x3rc3s]

...please, think of the bee's