Fast Track, my favourite travel show on BBC World, had a feature this past week about two companies, AeroMobile and OnAir, set to launch in-flight mobile phone services to European airlines sometime this year.
I myself can’t imagine a fate worse than having to endure some asshat in the seat beside me spending a 15-hour flight to Hong Kong yakking it up with someone on the other end of the line:
“They’re serving dinner… Should I get chicken or beef?”
“I’m looking out the window now — still only clouds…”
“They’re starting the movie… Have you seen Multiplicity?”
And so on.
I would, however, love to be able to surf the web, check my email, send and receive texts — you know, all those things you can do quietly and respect the environment and people around you?
Somewhat surprisingly, the FCC in the US and A continues to ban this idea, despite mounting evidence that there’s no danger to aircraft avionics. Could it be that the American government is using safety as an excuse to protect loudmouth passengers from themselves? And could it also be that Europeans, with their more advanced handsets, are therefore more advanced (i.e. more courteous) users?
I’d like to think so, but unfortunately I know from experience that it’s just not the case…
5 Comments
The woman in this picture is creepy as hell. She looks like she has a steel trap in lieu of a vagina.
AC:
At least on planes they give you headphones, but I’m sure they’d park some loud-talking asshat next to me on a long flight. I’d prefer to fly without the service.
I just hope they don’t bring cell service to Toronto subways. I don’t mind being interrupted by someone making important calls, but 99% of the ones I hear on the street, in the office, or on a streetcar are annoyingly inane. Or insane.
Ed
Michelle, that image was pilfered from OnAir’s own media page — you can download your very own hi-res souvenir copy here:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/2ga2ot
Click on the one called “Woman calling onboard”, and enjoy
And Ed, don’t know if I already told you this but the TTC ran an online survey recently about mobile access underground… Not only might that be on it’s way too, but the TTC intimated in the survey that it might make an exclusive deal with ONLY ONE of the carriers, which would be supremely retarded!
AC:
Lovely. A subway ride now augmented by someone yelling “where are you?” or complaining about what someone said about them after gym class….
If the TTC reduced the Metropass price to compensate for this, I’ shell out for noise-cancelling headphones.
and, no, I wouldn’t leave my cell on, either!
Ed
Yeah, someone needs to come up with a technology that allows packet data (internet, SMS) but prohibits voice calling. If anyone out there is developing such a thing, I’ve got some VC funding for you!