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Wi-Fi Coming on U.S. Domestic Flights

jvptoad writes "The NY Times is reporting that United Airlines has received approval to offer Wi-Fi Internet access on its planes. Although it will be over a year before the service is available, I wonder if this will impact the discussion on cell phone usage in planes (which seems to be centered around the annoyance of people talking loudly on the phone). Add a headset and Skype, and you don't need a cell phone to have loud, annoying phone conversations on an airplane."

10 of 317 comments (clear)

  1. Multiplayer On-Line On-Flight Gaming by topgeek · · Score: 4, Funny

    What are the chances I'll be able to set up a Counter-Strike server on my flight to Washington?

    --
    Geek Of The Day, "A geeky place for geeky faces."
    1. Re:Multiplayer On-Line On-Flight Gaming by nacturation · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Bomb has been planted."
      "Storm the front!"
      "Hostage down!"
      "Get out of there, it's going to blow!"

      Tonight on CNN, a thirteen year old suspected terrorist on a domestic flight has been arrested and moved to Guantanamo Bay for interrogation. As per PATRIOT Act regulations, the boy has been denied an attorney, no charges are pending, and no judge is set to hear the case. The FBI hasn't released any details, but I for one welcome our new terrorist catching overlords.

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  2. Great... by Vertdang · · Score: 5, Funny
    Great... now the fat, sweaty, stupid, irritating, guy next to me on every single flight I've ever taken can now be surfing for horse pr0n and talking his ass off on his cell the whole flight.

    I am overjoyed.

    --
    Statesmen serve to better the country and help the people.
    Politicians serve to better themselves and help friends.
  3. Re:Uh, latency? by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 3, Funny

    repeat: uh, latency?

    could you resend that packet? i didn't get it the first time ...

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  4. Re:Great... or how I learned to Love Butter by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 3, Funny

    Great... now the fat, sweaty, stupid, irritating, guy next to me on every single flight I've ever taken can now be surfing for horse pr0n and talking his ass off on his cell the whole flight.

    You know, I've found that butter does wonders for keyboards. That and spilled coffee.

    As to the cell phones, if he doesn't take the hint after the butter, apply that to the cell phone as well.

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    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  5. And i thought... by ribo-bailey · · Score: 4, Funny

    The crapper was a pretty exotic place to get on IRC from. Imagine it from 30,000ft ... on the crapper.

  6. Skype and VoIP -- latency good enough? by MMHere · · Score: 3, Funny

    Will the latency of this link be low enough to support decent response times for VoIP?

    If they're using a satellite link (they must be), then your loud Skype+headset conversation will be just as uncomfortable for you to use as it is for others around you to observe.

    "He-"

    "Hello?"

    "Huh?"

    "What?"

    "You started talk-"

    "You began-"

    "You go."

    "No you... Go ahead!"

    Damn satellite latency.

  7. To quote the Onion... by peipas · · Score: 3, Funny

    "If they lift the ban on cell-phone use, they better lift the ban on passengers beating the shit out of each other, too."

  8. Legal issue??? by Linker3000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Just a thought:

    What jurisdiction does a plane flying over, say, international waters actually fall under - for example, is the inside of a US-registered plane considered to be US territory or do a generic set of International rules apply?

    I just wondered as this might raise some interesting legal issues with regards to data protection etc. ie: emailing a customer database back to the office, downloading porn, sharing files or DMCA-infringing stuff etc.!!?? Mind you, hosting your DVD ripping apps at an altitude of 30,000ft over the Atlantic by constantly flying from NY to London and back is not going to come cheap!!

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    AT&ROFLMAO
  9. Re:LuftHansa has it already by Cruciform · · Score: 4, Funny

    "the plane is going down! before i die, i just wanted to say i hate you for all the shit you've put me through!"

    *click* Sent!

    "um, disregard last message. it was just turbulence. I'll be a little late getting home from the airport honey."