Tag Archive for: OnAir

Wi-Fi

From the home to the hotel and almost everywhere in between there is Wi-Fi. I take for granted that I can use my Blackberry anywhere I travel. And I also take for granted a wireless Internet connection when I stay at hotels. I am not a big cellphone user. I hardly ever use my cellphone for voice. For me, it is all about the data.

One of the last holdouts for wireless and Wi-Fi has been air travel. Must turn off those pesky cellphones and Blackberries. They interfere with the aircraft and pose a potential hazard to a safe flight. At least until now.

OnAir has just introduced a set of services that will allow passengers to use their iPhones, Blackberries and most other mobile devices to send and receive emails, exchange text messages and make and receive voice calls. Their service will also provide Internet access.

Okay. I am sold on the data side. But inflight voice calls over a cellphone?

I know how much I enjoy listening to people talk on their cellphones in public places. For whatever reason, most people become loud and obnoxious when using a cellphone in a public place. Presumably to ensure that the person on the other end of the call can hear them.

I wonder how loud they will have to speak to be heard when they are flying 35,000 feet in the air?

Travel by air just changed. Note to self: bring ear plugs.