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Qantas plans in-flight mobile trial |
masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
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Qantas to Conduct an Evaluation of New Technology Allowing Customers to stay Connected Inflight
Sydney, 28 August 2006
Qantas said it would introduce new technology from early 2007, which will enable customers to make and receive emails, SMS and calls via their own mobile phone or personal electronic devices such as Blackberrys.
Qantas Group General Manager of Customer Product and Services, Ms Lesley Grant, said the airline would evaluate the technology over a three-month period on a Boeing 767 aircraft operating on Australian domestic routes.
"Qantas will be one of the first airlines in the world to offer this service."
Ms Grant said Qantas' research indicated that customers were increasingly demanding the same range of services in the air as those available on the ground.
"We have asked our business travellers about the concept, the overwhelming majority felt the service was a good idea, particularly email access. Most feel it will allow them to use their time more effectively in-flight, as a flight for many has become an integral part of their business day," she said.
"This evaluation is the first step towards building a product, which will support our customers' business and communication needs into the future. It is a terrific opportunity for us to work with our customers to shape the final product.
Ms Grant said Qantas will be actively seeking customer feedback to further refine the airline's policy, which would include input on the protocols concerning use of mobile phones in-flight.
Qantas has teamed with Telstra, Panasonic Avionics Corporation and AeroMobile in the evaluation, to bring about a solution that will allow appropriate communication devices to be safely used inflight and not interfere with the ground network.
"The service will be simple to use. Customers wanting to make or receive a call or SMS require only a GSM phone and a global roaming account. While customers wanting to send or receive emails would need a GPRS enabled device like a Blackberry or an appropriately equipped laptop, Ms Grant said.
"The aircraft effectively operates as a single 'GSM country' in the sky, with passengers using the service as they do now, when overseas".
Ms Grant said Qantas and its partners were working with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and other agencies to ensure the system operates in accordance with Australian regulatory and legal requirements.
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rockygali
Joined: Nov 21, 2005
Posts: > 500
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hhmmm intriguing enuff.. who would be the first few passengers that will try this.
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shaliron
Joined: Jan 15, 2006
Posts: > 500
From: Melbourne, Australia
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This sounds great, and that includes us non-business users as well. Hope that QANTAS don't charge too much for the service.
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senninha
Joined: Jan 05, 2003
Posts: > 500
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well since it's like international roaming, it's going to cost a bit. but that's better than radio silence... |
Luke-the-magic-man
Joined: May 31, 2005
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so luton etc puts in all these procedures to stop bombs etc now they want to allow mobiles on board... which could be used to detonate bombs....
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masseur
Joined: Jan 03, 2003
Posts: > 500
From: Sydney, London
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given that almost anything taken on board could potentially be a bomb, or used to set off a bomb, I don't feel the argument to ban mobile phones specifically is valid.
I think this trial is a good step forward and is something that should have happened years ago. Allowing flight mode capable phone use was far too long in coming too
I'm also glad to see its the airline that I am a frequent flyer with that is taking this on!
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Posted: 2006-08-28 09:56
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