While traveling by plane, passengers are forced to switch-off their cell-phones. The most effected is the business class. Many telecommunication companies are coming up with new technologies that enable people to stay connected.
An off the shelf technology similar to that used by Verizon and Sprint for data networks and Wi-Fi hot spots will be employed by the airborne telecommunications company. Airlines can get this service for less than $100,000 in equipment costs.
Emirates Airlines’ Airbus 340-500 is provides an e-mail facility while you are at 40,000 feet. If, you have Wi-Fi-enabled laptops, you can monitor your inboxes for a small fee, while sending and receiving e-mails costs more.
West Sussex, England-based AeroMobile helps you keep dialed in. You can use mobile phones and PDAs, including BlackBerrys, in flight. Also, Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines have installed live text news services to keep you aware of the breaking news.
AirCell plans to provide exclusive broadband connectivity to U.S. airlines and business aircrafts and will soon take over the spectrum formally used by Airfone thus providing the passengers with air-to-ground phone service. AirCell anticipates offering the connection in the year 2008.
Source: MSNBC
