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World's First In-Flight Mobile Access |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Wednesday, 02 January 2008 |
Air France has become the first airline in the world to offer an
in-flight mobile phone service on international flights allowing
travellers to use their phones to send and receive messages and email.
The service uses the Mobile OnAir system and is available on only one
Air France Airbus A318 aircraft operating on European routes. Initially
however the system is restricted to allow only sms/mms text messages
and emails via phones with Internet access. The trial will be extended
in the future to allow passengers to make and receive phone calls, will
be regulated to maintain the "comfort and well-being" of others on
board says the carrier.
Air France will ask passengers to complete a twenty-question survey
about their experience. At the end of the six-month trial, Air France
will examine the feedback and comments made by customers to determine
whether to launch this service on all of its flights.
"We are seizing every opportunity to offer customers the latest
technological innovations, while continuing to make their travel
comfort and well-being our main priority", stated Patrick Roux,
Executive Vice President Marketing Air France.
The Mobile OnAir system is certified by EASA (European Aviation Safety
Authority) and does not interfere with the radio-navigation
instruments. It's use is restricted to cruising altitude and is only
activated above 3,000 metres (10,000 feet).
Mobile phones connect to a miniature cellular network installed inside
this aircraft. A modem transmits data and calls to a satellite that
routes them to a ground station. Data and calls are then routed to the
passenger's usual telephone network. The cellular network is located
inside the aircraft. Passengers' mobile phones only emit at minimum
power, which does not risk harmful interference with aircraft avionics
or ground telecoms network.
Phones are used just like on the ground. To make a call on board the
aircraft, passengers simply dial the international prefix (+) or 00 +
country code + full number (without the 0). The cost of data exchanges
are invoiced by the customers' home telephone operator and are
comparable to those used for normal international mobile phone calls.
Benoit Debains, CEO of OnAir, said "We are delighted that Air France is
the first airline to use the Mobile OnAir onboard mobile telephony
system on international flights. This marks an important phase in the
implementation of a new generation of in-flight services and we are
confident that this trial will define the future standards in terms of
in-flight passenger communication".
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