Tech & Biz

In-Flight Mobile Phones

by mazevedo | February 21, 2009 at 12:42 pm

185 views | 5 Recommendations | 1 comment

Attention all passengers, we would like to inform you that all mobile devices should be turned off during take off and landing and whenever the sign "turn off mobile devices" sign is turned on...
You might be wondering that doesn't sound quite right however its true, Ryanair is introducing in flight mobile phones. According to Ryanair's CEO this is a great opportunity for the airline to expand its revenue.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary unveiled the discount airline’s latest money-making plan: inflight mobile service. Although several other airlines such as Air-France KLM and BMI British Midland have run in-flight cell phone service trials, Ryanair is the first European airline to actually begin kitting out 20 of its 170-strong fleet.

The service is provided by OnAir, a company 67% owned by aviation company Sita and 30% by Airbus. O’Leary aims to offer it aboard the entire fleet within the next 18 months. Calls aren’t cheap, though, costing between $2.15 and $4.28 a minute, with text messages costing 60 cents and e-mails up to $2.85.

A couple journalists have experimented upon Ryanair's new service however many weren't really sure whether this was a service which was going to be successful or not. It is a service that could potentially go both ways. For business users this new service offers great potential however how would you like it if the person sitting next to you never stopped talking on their cell phones or just kept on receiving calls all the time.

Feel free to share your opnions and thoughts.

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