In-Flight mobile set to take-off

April 7, 2005 - source: BWCS

Mobile phone application developer Arinc and Norwegian operator Telenor have begun demonstrating their new AeroMobile service which will allow passengers to use their mobile phones whilst traveling on commercial flights. The two companies say they are in discussions with several large airlines and are in the process of arranging "pilot" tests and demonstrations on regular flights.

According to the two companies involved, the service should launch by the end of this year. The AeroMobile system has already been shown off to a group of high-ranking airline executives and aviation journalists in a virtual flight at the London HQ of Inmarsat. The AeroMobile service was delivered via a standard Inmarsat satellite connection, authentically simulating actual passenger mobile calls and SMS at 30,000 feet. Attendees placed and received calls on their own personal mobile cell phones to test the service.

So far, there have been no reports of any electronic interference with the simulated flight's instruments.