Cellphones On Airplanes

Bonker writes "According to this USAToday article two companies, AirCell, and Verizon, are developing technology to let airline passengers safely use cellphones while in flight. The system would block frequencies normally used by cellphones and force cell customers to 'roam' on the new network. Saftey concerns aside, I thought that a plane cabin was the one place I would never have to deal with people who won't quit talking on the phone."

Comments

Re:deal?

[DaytonCIM]

People tend to speak LOUDER whilst speaking on a cell phone. In addition, people tend to be oblivios to those around them, hence they tend to not realise their being rude.

We survived 20,000 years without cell phones. Why is it now we cannot?

Yeah, right

[yatest5]

This proposed systems would probably be controllable from the cockpit as well, and could easily make any cell phone on the plane inoperable. Maybe that is what the control oriented security freaks want, but I think it has many dangers.

Fuck, not only will I be dying 50 years early in a ball of flame, but I won't be able to ring my wife before it happens. This is a very serious issue!!

Perhaps you missed the point...

[anthony_dipierro]

You didn't answer the questions. "What is there to 'deal' with about people talking on phones? Do you also have to 'deal' with people talking to the person next to them?" Instead you invented a hypothetical situation about someone talking very loudly on a phone. The question isn't "What could there possibly be to 'deal' with about people talking on phones." The question is "What is there to 'deal' with about people talking on phones."

Re:the deal

[EvilNTUser]

"By some act of manufacturing or quirk of human nature, cell phones seem to have this inherent ability to turn otherwise friendly, considerate people into inconsiderate jerks."

Wrong, they give *seemingly* considerate people a *means* to be inconsiderate. There's a difference.

"On top of the obvious rudness of leaving your cell phone to ring in a movie"

Yes, this is rude. The last time I heard a phone ring in a theater was years ago. People have now learned what the vibrate-function does, so this is a non-issue and personally I'm sick of hearing it used as an argument.

"It says, "Not only are you not interesting enough to talk to, but you're so insignificant, I'm not going to feel any qualms about interrupting your ride by talking at the top of my voice.""

Um, sorry, but you *are* insignificant. Why should I show interest in some total stranger just because he's sitting next to me? I agree I should not use an above normal voice, but if you want to feel offended because I have something better to do than talk to random people, be my guest.

Why don't you do something productive yourself, like read a book about self-esteem or whatever.

Re:Does not matter

[jazman_777]

Whats the difference between a passanger talking on his cellphone and two passangers talking to each other on the same plane?

Sometimes, not much. I recall an annoying conversation in particular. Some Microsoft manager behind me was just pouring out the corporate management boilerplate to his seatmates. It was a disgusting display of technomanagerbabble.