blackcat
Validated Poster
Joined: 07 May 2006
Posts: 2376
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 Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:39 pm Post subject: British regulators OK cell phones in planes |
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http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/88606?comment_start=46&comment_count= 20#see_comments
| Quote: | British regulators OK cell phones in planes
Fri Apr 4, 2008 11:28AM EDT
One of the final hurdles preventing Europeans from chit-chatting on their cell phones while hurtling through Euro airspace has been cleared, as UK regulator Ofcom (akin to our FCC), has given the OK for cell phones to be used on planes, as long as they're above 3,000 meters. (Many of the other approvals required across Europe have already been granted.)
While the idea of airborne cell phone usage has been a public disaster in the U.S., Europeans seem somewhat warmer to the notion. Perhaps it's the generally shorter flights that tend to dominate Europe, or perhaps it's cultural: Cramped, loud buses and subways tend to be the norm, so the additional noise of a few people on their phones may tend to bother Europeans less than it does their privacy-and-silence-obsessed American counterparts.
Just because Ofcom has signed off, though, that doesn't mean that cell phones will immediately start being whipped out as soon as that 10,000-foot bell chimes en route to Grenoble. It's up to individual airlines now to decide whether they want to offer cell phone in-flight services, and then they have to install the equipment on their planes to make it work. Europe's Aviation Safety Agency also has to approve any new equipment installed on planes (though this is not seen as a major obstacle; all new electronics devices installed on jets have to be approved in this manner). It's also worth noting that no airline has formally applied for permission to offer such services yet, though this is probably just a matter of time.
Of course, in the U.S., no such plans are underway, though those hopeful for getting Internet access while airborne are in for a treat. This week, the FAA approved plans for American Airlines to offer in-flight Wi-Fi service, and that approval can potentially be applied to any U.S. airline that wants to offer the same type of technology (provided by Aircell). No news on a date when such services will be turned on, but many are hoping to have live Wi-Fi rolled out on at least a few planes by the end of the year. |
"It's up to individual airlines now to decide whether they want to offer cell phone in-flight services, and then they have to install the equipment on their planes to make it work. "
Fishy!!
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"The conflict between corporations and activists is that of narcolepsy versus remembrance. The corporations have money, power and influence. Our sole influence is public outrage. Extract from "Cloud Atlas (page 125) by David Mitchell. |
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alwun
Moderate Poster
Joined: 09 Apr 2006
Posts: 282
Location: london
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| Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject: who knows? |
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who knows?
look at this from the article:
| Quote: | | Of course, in the U.S., no such plans are underway |
can one read anything into this? It looks like a case of deliberate prose to me. The article is being hotly contested as regards 911 on the yahoo comments.
cheers Al. |
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