Singapore Airlines to offer in-flight cellphone and internet service

[futaris]

iTWire - Singapore Airlines to offer in-flight cellphone service

Singapore Airlines has announced plans to offer Internet access via WiFi on board its aircraft and, possibly, the ability for cellphone users to both make and receive voice calls.

The service will be offered in collaboration with in-flight connectivity provider OnAir and will be rolled out from the first half of 2011 on the Airline's Airbus A380, Airbus A340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/sing...508-sia-offer-inflight-wireless-internet.html

 

[zig]

iTWire - Singapore Airlines to offer in-flight cellphone service



SIA to offer inflight wireless Internet - FlyerTalk Forums

Very sad to hear this. Air craft have been a lovely peaceful oasis from the irritating mobile phone user and now it is to be lost.

 

[samh004]

Very sad to hear this. Air craft have been a lovely peaceful oasis from the irritating mobile phone user and now it is to be lost.

Having experienced mobile phone users in the lounge, I wouldn't be happy to find them in the air, though a/c have come with handsets that would seem to allow it for years...

 

[Flashback]

And due to the cost they're hardly used. I imagine the cost of making a call from your mobile would be just as expensive so unlikely to be used much also and I would say this is true for economy more so.

 

[pauly7]

Very sad to hear this. Air craft have been a lovely peaceful oasis from the irritating mobile phone user and now it is to be lost.

Plus one.

Any airline that allows this will come off my list.

Text messages beeping through I bet would be most common given cost of phone calls... Most people would probably text..... And that would drive me nuts!

 

[zig]

Text messages beeping through I bet would be most common given cost of phone calls... Most people would probably text..... And that would drive me nuts!

Hopefully airlines would at least enforce a policy of having to put your phone on silent, or vibrate.

 

[pauly7]

Hopefully airlines would at least enforce a policy of having to put your phone on silent, or vibrate.

How? By askin nicely? just like at the movies? And in meetings and presentations and in the theatre....?

Where mobiles go off ALL the time because people forget, ignore or press the wrong button to turn it on silent!

By the time a phone beeps you are already woken up / annoyed. Then you have to rely on a FA being near and caring enough to tell the person off...

Nope, sorry it's all or nothing for me. I'll just avoid the airlines / aircraft that allow this

 

[samh004]

And due to the cost they're hardly used. I imagine the cost of making a call from your mobile would be just as expensive so unlikely to be used much also and I would say this is true for economy more so.

Which is unfortunate, as I’m sure the majority of those in J/F wouldn’t be happy about being woken by someone that had to do a deal on the phone

 

[simongr]

I have already seen video of a video conference taking place via Facetime (iphone4) on wifi on board.

I am undecided on this - I couldnt see the point domestically - such short flights. In J Int'l the proximity is not as close so not a major concern for me.

I certainly dont see flights as peaceful experiences - half the time I cant hear movies on the iPad (via wireless headphones) over the engine and other noise...

 

[samh004]

I have already seen video of a video conference taking place via Facetime (iphone4) on wifi on board.

Did it work well?

I certainly dont see flights as peaceful experiences - half the time I cant hear movies on the iPad (via wireless headphones) over the engine and other noise...

Have you tried the A380?

 

[Flying Fox]

Oh no. How sad.

As Samuel L Jackson might say - I'm sick of these M#$%^@ F&*(^%$ phones on planes!

 

[simongr]

Did it work well?

Seemed to be good enopugh

Have you tried the A380?

I should have clarified - I was referring to DOM whY (and J) primarily. I personally find them tedious and inconsequential flights and do not see them in any way relaxing.

Due to the real estate in int'l J I don't have much contact with the other pax thankfully.

 

[anat0l]

The BA CW LCY service allows mobile usage on board at particular times, with the following 'conditions':

• Only SMS, MMS and GPRS services can be accessed
• Voice calls, Skype and other VOIP services are not allowed
• Phones are requested to be switched to silent or vibrate modes only
• Rates are charged in accordance with international roaming charges to the owner's mobile network provider

If it was left at that I wouldn't mind. Of course, if voice calls are going to be made that could be a real lemon, although in-seat phones have existed for a long time now (again, at a fairly prohibitive cost), and many can now send SMS as well as voice calls. If people really wanted to make calls, they could use the in-seat phone, and what difference does that make to those who would be annoyed by the prospect of people being on their mobile phone whilst on board?

I guess offering the ability to use mobiles on board gives an illusion that people can do something that they couldn't otherwise do (i.e. it was completely impossible) before. I can just see that there will be consumer groups jumping left right and centre on how the charges could be so expensive and people were not aware of the real costs until they got the bill (a la the iPhone 300-page bill fiasco and the continuing thread that if you don't treat people like complete idiots then you will fail and you're still not covered!).

And as much as some people would like to do more of their work in the air and stay connected, equally there will be people who don't want to hear iPhone SMS tones going off every 30 seconds, or the conversations of some hot-shot trying to tie up a business deal in the air or a melodramatic individual trying to negotiate a separation with their ex-partner.

 

[samh004]

Just to clarify, the in-seat phones I’ve seen and alluded to earlier, do those actually work? :shock:

I just assumed they were a stock standard part but weren’t functional on any of the a/c I’ve used. Of course I’ve never had a reason to try, but just assumed!

 

[anat0l]

Just to clarify, the in-seat phones I’ve seen and alluded to earlier, do those actually work? :shock:

I just assumed they were a stock standard part but weren’t functional on any of the a/c I’ve used. Of course I’ve never had a reason to try, but just assumed!

No point giving instructions on a phone that can be used if it can't.

In any case, I know at least one AFFer who has used an in-seat phone on a QF aircraft. Can't help you with others.

 

[Flashback]

Just to clarify, the in-seat phones I’ve seen and alluded to earlier, do those actually work? :shock:

I just assumed they were a stock standard part but weren’t functional on any of the a/c I’ve used. Of course I’ve never had a reason to try, but just assumed!

Yep! Skoogle called me when doing SYD-BKK in F

 

[SeaWolf]

The in-seat phones are barely used, but I have a hunch that this will be much more popular, even with the steep costs. There's just something about the convience and familiarity of using your own phone that I think will make it more widely used than the in-seat phones that you hardly ever touched.

I doubt I'd be using it to make calls but I could see myself sending a txt or two from the air. "Stuck in holding over Heathrow, will be late."

 

[anat0l]

...I could see myself sending a txt or two from the air. "Stuck in holding over Heathrow, will be late."

So could I: "I can see your house - shut the curtains for crying out loud!" :mrgreen:

 

[JohnK]

This is very sad news.

Really starting to run out of options to get to SE Asia.

 

[tuppaware]

I have used both skype and internet on a flight in whY on AA JFK to LAX and it was quite fast and seemed high enough quality for using face to face skype off a laptop. Although I had my headphones on and I dont speak louder then talking to the mate next to me.