In-flight connectivity solution provider AeroMobile announced that Emirates Airline has successfully completed its first flight offering in-air cellular service.
After receiving full approval from aviation authorities, passengers on flight EK751 from Dubai to Casablanca were able to place and receive calls from their own mobile phones. AeroMobile’s in-flight solutions allows passengers to safely use their personal mobile phones during flights; according to AeroMobile, the solution has been rigorously tested during the approvals process in the past year.
The Dubai-based international airline offered guidelines for the appropriate use of phones on board, including requesting passengers to have their phones switched to “silent” mode during the flights. The system automatically came into operation as the Airbus A340-300 reached cruise altitude. Passengers wanting to use the service received a text message welcoming them to the AeroMobile system when they first switched on their phones, and then were able to make and receive voice calls as well as use text messaging.
Emirates and AeroMobile say that will continue working to add features to the service offering, including the compatability of BlackBerry e-mail and other GPRS data applications later in 2008 and also to integrate the AeroMobile aircraft system with Emirates’ in-flight entertainment system.
A second Emirates aircraft, a Boeing 777-300, has already been outfitted with the AeroMobile system and will be in operation shortly.
Australian airline Qantas also announced plans to roll out in-flight messaging service later this year, in a partnership with AeroMobile. The airline said passengers on domestic flights will be able to send and receive e-mail and SMS messages on their mobile phones or other electronic devices before the end of the year. Although voice calls are possible with the technology, the airline said it will not activate that feature at the launch of service.