Slashdot Mirror
U.S. Airlines to Offer In-Air Wi-Fi
"Within the next year, US Airlines are going to be offering Wi-Fi service onboard flights. VoiP calls will be banned initially, but the article mentions that lifting the ban on cellphones may still be a possibility. 'AirCell will install equipment on airliners that will act as a WiFi hotspot in the cabin and connect to laptop computers and devices like BlackBerrys that have WiFi chips. In all, it will cost about $100,000 to outfit a plane with less than 100 pounds of equipment, and the work can be done overnight by airline maintenance workers, AirCell says. What makes the service particularly attractive to airlines is that they will share revenue with AirCell. The service will cost about the same as existing WiFi offerings. Mr. Blumenstein says it will charge no more than $10 a day to passengers. It will also offer discounted options for customers and tie into existing service programs like T-Mobile, iPass and Boingo. Speeds will be equivalent to WiFi service on the ground.'"
I can't say how happy reading this made me. I tend to travel a lot, and as such, I never get to use my laptop in flight because really... airlines suck at technological upkeep. out of the 25 flights I have taken in the last 18 months, I have been on ONE plane with some sort of airline adapter to plug into for power... Hopefully now when I get into first class I will be able to be online, and actually have power to keep my energy hungry machine going for awhile. Woohoo!
-- Josh
"Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me!" - Pete Conrad
Especially if they are going to use VoIP?
Will it be available to more than business class passengers? If not its kind of irrelevant to the vast majority of people. If its available to economy class, does this mean we will get power points in economy class too?
I hope phone calls stay banned. Airline flights are bad enough without having to listen to one side of a hundred phone conversations.
A jerk talking on his cellphone while I'm trying to enjoy a quiet plane ride.
Imagine a 5 hour cross country flight, sitting next to some idiot yapping at the top of his voice on his cell phone. That after having to strip down, empty your bags, and submit to a body cavity search just to get through security. That cross country road trip is sounding better and better every day...
I've been curious for a while about mobile phones versus laptops on planes. We have to turn the phones off, but who even thinks to turn off the 802.11 or Blue Tooth in their laptop? Perhaps the 2.4GHz range doesn't coincide with navigational frequencies or something.
So all I need is a big antenna in my backyard and some tracking software and I can have free wifi!
Libertarian Leaning Political Discussion Forum.
Now I can play Metroid: Prime Hunters and other DS multiplayer games online!
Abaddon: An Xbox 360 Indie game
Playing counter-strike will now be even more realistic. Imagine the kids screaming "haha, I'm going to blow this plane, you faggots!!!11" inside the plane. And the real CT squad goes berserker and pull their weapons. Pure pwnage!
Spam at 10,000 feet!
'Loose' is when your pants are three sizes too big. 'Lose' is when you misuse 'loose'.
...how they plan on blocking all voice-over-internet -- Ventrilo, clients other than Skype, etc.
Blocking everything but port 80, perhaps?
It is by my will alone my thoughts acquire motion; it is by the juice of the coffee bean that the thoughts acquire speed
The DEFINITIVE guide to Airline WiFi and Internet Access.
Not so new. Rather than true progress this is merely a catch up.
How to Download YouTube Videos
Will leave you stranded on the tarmack for 8 hours, then cancel your flight, and then send a media spokesman out to say that you and the other passengers are "liars".
I'll never fly with these assholes again, I don't care if they start installing 46" Bravia's and Wii's
I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!!!!
What's the point of banning VoIP? How is a VoIP packet different from any other packet? A VPN or an SSH tunnel is all you need to thwart that.
You couldnt take your girlfriend to the bathroom for a quickie... Soon, they wont allow laptops in bathroom...
Sigs are too short to say anything truly profound so read the above post instead.
I seriously don't think that $10 per day for WiFi connection will satisfy the stockholders/investors.
$4,500,000,000 - At only $100k per plane x 4500 planes that fly in the North America area. (guess)
$xx millions - Wireless spectrum
Well, even with simplified math, that works out to hundreds of millions of user-day revenue just to pay back infrastructure investment. Where is the business plan for that?
Support NYCountryLawyer RIAA vs People
$10 a day? How many flights do they think people take in a day? I mean, i don't know what the current average flights per day for 1 person flying is, but i don't expect it to be higher than MAYBE 1.5.
How about $5 per flight? How about a checkbox on the reservation website to include it in the ticket price of each leg? How about the username/password sent to you with your confirmation/receipt?
-Tony
Heck, just the sound alone if you neglect to turn it off or the headphone jack slips. I think an air marshall hearing an errant shotgun blast or rocket explosion would jump at the chance to increase his real life score by popping the guy right in his seat.
So what will keep someone with an internal wireless (cellular) broadband card in their laptop from using it, and claiming they are on the planes wi-fi network? To the passive observer, there would really be no way to tell the difference. Using cellular in a plane makes it explode or something, right?
I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
Speeds will be equivalent to WiFi service on the ground
So....how about the bandwidth actually going upstream to the INTERNET? I sure am happy that I'll be connecting to the access point at 11/54Mbps, but....that won't help much when downloading pr0n!
It is pitch black. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
There is absolutely no way that a laptop carried on a plane can simulate the sound of a real shotgun or rocket.
Have you even heard a real gun before? I guarantee you that the air marshals have.
I'm out of my mind right now, but feel free to leave a message.....
Good God, how long are these flights?
For security, the MD5 hash of this message and sig is 09f911029d74e35bd84156c5635688c0.
The article says that the wifi will cost the same amount per day as regular wifi.
Does that mean it will cost less if you are flying East?
liqbase
Why does it cost 100 grand for a plane?
-- lol pwned
Does anyone else see this as a security risk? If suddenly we have cell and internet access on planes, "all" someone has to do is get some nasty device (explosive, gas, greek fire, whatever) on the flight and activate it remotely via whatever method they choose. Our physical security on flights is improved, but far from effective (remember the student who got some razor blades or something on a plane a couple years back, not to mention the recent incident of luggage being flown even though the passenger was not aboard). Right now, nothing catastrophic has happened because there are a limited number of people willing to sacrifice their own life for . If we open things up so that you can take down an airplane just by smuggling something on it, I see this as a major problem. I'm not usually one to balk at new technology, but this seems like an invitation for disaster unless we first fix the physical security measures that plague the industry.
In theory, theory always works in practice. In practice, theory rarely works. <><
Could've fooled me. Let me go search a few news sites for the phrases "thought he saw a gun" or "thought he smelled marijuana" or "thought he heard a gunshot." I could limit it to this year only if slashdot comments have a line limit.
The "they're-coming-right-for-us!!" reflex always supercedes training. It would not surprise me if such a wild scenario eventually happened.
...There are Mutherpucking spamers on the Mutherpucking plane.
I'm in coach. The guy behind me starts his laptop and surfs the web. How far is the Wi-Fi antenna on his laptop from my head?
Not really far enough for my taste.
When I type in front of my laptop, the antenna is over 15 inches (approx 37 cm) away.
(Laptop wi-fi antennnae are usually on the top part of the lid.)
Otherwise WiFi is useless on flights over 3 hours, where its actually needed. Weather its a regular outlet, cigarette ligher adapter or some fixed voltage DC source, notebook makers will come up with adapters. Alternatively, show me a notebook that can last 10 hours while actually working - hardrrive/CPU on - AND using the network.
A few months ago we were driving up I-5 in California.
We were stuck in a traffic jam on the road, a good 20 miles from the nearest town. I pulled out my laptop to scan for wireless signals, and see exactly how 'isolated' this area was.
Surprisingly, I found several Access Points with names like 'JetBlue1203' and 'JetBlue1609'. These signals would start at low-strength, the signal would grow stronger, peak for about 5 minutes, and then drop off in strength--- almost as if they were coming from an Airplane overhead.
I suppose these AP's could have come from some other car on the road; but people generally don't run Access Points in their Car.
Traffic was at a standstill--- if the signal was coming from a nearby house or from a car on our side of the road; I would expect the signal to remain level for a longer period of time.
If the signal was coming from a car on the opposite side of the road, I would expect the signal quality to rise and fall quickly. In fact, I could detect a number of 'Ad-Hoc' wireless signals from some misconfigured Laptops-- those signals would zoom by pretty quickly (other side of the road), or remain stable (My side of the road).
I never investigated these further, but I always assumed these 'JetBlue####' Access Points were from JetBlue Airplanes, and I was lucky enough to be within line-of-sight of these signals. The airplanes were a few miles above us, which seems pretty distant for a Wifi signal... But still these Access Points had names like 'JetBlue'. What the heck were they?
"Can of worms? The can is open... the worms are everywhere."
Ear plugs give me a headache, and I have used many different types including molded-to-my-ear, stuffy foam, and pre-molded-plugs. I just wish you would go fuck yourself instead of suggesting solutions that don't work for me.
I agree that people should be able to make phone calls on airplanes. I think the solution to the whiny is to send them down to Latin America to take some bus rides. They'll be fucking stoked to be sitting more-or-less comfortably between two cellphone conversations by comparison.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I love it when my government uses my tax dollars to subsidize airlines and then they spend.. WAY to much on an object(I would say investment, but I don't think it is). Maybe they can just lay off some more pilots and raise the rates for everyone else.
Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit!
US Airlines should begin offering to get your luggage from its origin to the destination before they start worrying about anything else.
Look in the mirror! You think everyone should be tolerant of your desire to yap on the cell phone. It may be a "public" place, but there is common courtesy. An emergency call is one thing, but just yip-yapping away will get old--fast. People are TOO attached to their phones.
Starmen.net
Latency. Introduce 750ms or so of latency. Web browsing and emailing unaffected. VOIP really breaks down.
I know! Not only to people expect me to not have loud conversations in public, they expect me to shower, wear clothes, and all these other things! Fuck that, if I want to go around naked and smelly and babbling into my cell phone, I should be able to do it wherever I want, because I am more important than everybody else.
I'm thinking about the 5 hour cross country flight, sitting next to the the ass that is either so stupid that he can't figure out that a $.50 pair of ear plugs would solve his problems,
Game theory, buddy. You making your incessant inane calls gives you slight benefit while annoying the hell out of about 100 people around you. Thus, not worth it. If everyone talks constantly on their phones during a long flight it's worse for everyone.
or is so self centered that he thinks everybody else should modify their behavior in public places because trying to force his desired behavior on everyone else
It seems to be the desired behavior of the masses - I've never seen anyone who enjoyed listening to a cacophony of cell calls - so that's democracy for you. Forcing societal norms on assholes since 1776.
seems like a better idea than putting in a $.50 pair of ear plugs.
Sure does, that's not particularly comfortable. I don't want to have to stick shit in my ears for 5 hours because you can't shut the **** up for 10 consecutive minutes.
You're not so damned important that you can't wait until you get on the ground. In the rare case that someone is, their company will reimburse them for the exorbitant back-of-the-seat phone.
I just wish that airlines would start offering free ear plugs, so we could all stop listening to the incessant whining of a bunch of intellectually challenged self centered ass holes.
The self-centered one is the dipshit who thinks his desires are more important than those of the 100 people around him. That would be you.
So, you don't mind if I'm halfway in your seat, or have bad breath I insist on blowing your way, farting, and generally being an obnoxious prick while sitting next to you in a crowded, unexitable area for a long period of time?
It's about respect. I shouldn't have to change MY behavior to make up for YOU being an obnoxious douchebag. Keep the phones off the plane. And if they don't, hell, I suppose I can talk loud enough about nothing to make it a pain in the ass for you to have a thought to yourself, or get a word in to your phone buddy.
My blog. Good stuff (when I remember to update it). Read it.
Which in the hell is it?
Are wireless devices going to cause the plane to crash or not?
If i can cause the plane to crash using my iPod during takeoff, why can i now use WiFi during the flight?
This all goes to show you why the asshole that refused to put away his iPod or laptop when told to was always right, and the stewdresses and do-gooder sheeple sitting around the cabin ratting them out are the real dumbasses.
guns kill people like spoons make Rosie O'Donnell fat.
In all, it will cost about $100,000 to outfit a plane with less than 100 pounds of equipment, and the work can be done overnight by airline maintenance workers, AirCell says.
However, according to the article in this post
So I'm wondering, what's changed? Are there key details being left out? Or is this just yet another tease of connectivity on a long flight without all the "what if's" being considered?
Oh the irony...
Support NRA, America's oldest civil rights group.
With everyone complaining on the price of 10$ being to high for 1 days use, just think about how much time is actually spent on a plane. The last 4 times I have flown I have been delayed ON the airplane for 2 hours each time. While my whole flight time was over 6 hours. Thus possibly giving me 8 hours of internet usage during my flight. Thats only 1.25$ per hour, which is not that bad if your extremely bored on a plane. The price should also carry over to all other flights you might have with that carrier. This is not a bad idea but I will believe it when i see it.
It may be a "public" place but the poor bastard next to you can't just get up and walk away if your talking irritates him. Your "right" to talk and his "right" to peace and quiet are going to conflict. How you both deal with that will be interesting, especially if your seat-mate is as reasonable, accommodating and willing to compromise as you seem to be.
None of them can see the clouds; The polished wings don't care.
...on the "cholic-y baby" ban
-- kortex "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts"
I wonder what kind of shielding they're going to have to add to pass government safety regulations. Boeing's new 787 had to scrap their wifi plans and change to ethernet, simply because the shielding weighed significantly more than the wired infastructure. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16831581/
to outfit a plane with a Wiki hot spot? Why?
TOP DSLR Cameras Reviews of the top DSLRs
Odd. So do you think that people shouldn't be allowed to talk to other people on airplanes? It should be no easier or harder to block out than people talking on phones. Or is the problem that you can't listen to both ends of the conversation so it's no fun to eavesdrop when somebody is on the phone?
And, when flying Aeroflot in Soviet Russia: P0RN UPLOADS YOU!
Planes are cramped enough as it is. They manage to shoe horn people into coach (steerage) at six total people per row (minus two at the emergency exit) on a medium range jet like an A320, 737, or 757. So, things are fairly claustrophobic and, mix in the woman that yaks endlessly about nothing for hours at a time and you have a recipe for air rage. I for one would be ready to yank the cell phone out of her hand and smash it against my knee. I am sure that cracking sound would be accompanied by the applause and hoots and hollers of a few passengers. So, yes, VoIP should be blocked. A simple matter really, use bandwidth throttling or port blocking. If people want to use their cell phones, make them pay for first class where it is less instrusive. Folks, flying sucks enough now, why make it worse?
sub service_passengers {
s enger));
foreach my $passenger (@passengers) {
if (passenger_talking_on_phone($passenger)) {
stewardess_action($passenger,PHONE_USE);
}
}
}
sub stewardess_action {
my $passenger = shift;
my $action = shift;
switch ($action) {
case EMPTY_GLASS:
fill_glass();
break;
case CALL_BUTTON:
disable_call_button();
stewardess_action($passenger,query_passenger($pas
break;
case NO_PEANUTS:
provide_peanuts($passenger);
break;
case PHONE_USE:
case SMOKING:
case DRUNKENNESS:
case FAIL_CREW_DIRECTIVE:
case SHOE_BOMB:
stewardess_panic($passenger);
break;
}
}
sub stewardess_panic {
my $passenger = shift;
pilot::divert_airplane();
if ($passenger) {
passengers::restrain_passenger($passenger);
fbi::arrest_on_landing($passenger);
}
}
paintball
"Wi-Fi internet access" means "sandboxed and filtered web access over 802.11".
New technology, after all, needs to be beaten into submission before it's deployed to ensure it has no impact on existing revenue streams. The idea of allowing a new technology to (along with it's primary function) make an existing revenue generator obsolete because it would make that new technology popular enough to more than make up for revenue losses is the MBA's equivalent of a Roman numeral zero.
Sir, you have a disability. When you have a disability, you have to live with the fact that the world does not revolve around your disability, and that you may have to work harder to make the solution that works for the rest of us, work for you. The fact is, there are thousands of jobs that mandate by law, the use of ear protection. This protection is for noise. Take whatever you would do if you had one of those jobs, and apply it to riding in an airplane. There are plenty of solutions that could give you reletive quite on an airplane.
That being said, your second paragraph indicates that you have overcome your disability, and learned to largely tune out those around you. That means my original suggestion would not likely apply to you anyway. The reason the whiny ass holes are so whiny is that they have been catered to, to the point that they think it is their right to tell everyone else how to behave. Even when they have the ability to ignore the other individual. They don't seem to think that it is their own responsibility to make themselves comfortable, and think that anyone not catering to them is being rude.
What? You do realize that in the US you are required by law to make all kinds of allowances for the disabled, right?
At the same time, if there is an established standard of behavior, then not conforming to it is rude. It might be reasonable and/or justified, but "rude" is determined by prevailing social mores.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I don't mind the "emergency" calls, as I said in another post. However, as many others have pointed out, phones on the plane would be abused. I understand what courtesy means, and I'm not a neo-luddite (whatever you mean by that). I simply do not think that others should be talking on their cell phones unnecessarily the entire flight while others (read: not one person, but many others) on the plane do not want to listen to this call. It has nothing to do with having others "doing what I want", but rather acting in a respectful manner.
If someone wants to text, or e-mail, or IM--go ahead. However, I doubt others want me to listen to my music over speakers or read my book (how's that for intellectual stimulation) aloud during the flight--so I expect the same in return.
Starmen.net
It's probably because most cell phone users think that today's technology still requires them to yell into the phone for others to hear them. :-)
Starmen.net
"Little does he know, but there is no 'I' in 'Idiot'!"
I find all this talk of internet access in economy hilarious. On most flights with the seat pitch what it is I can barely open a paperback book on the tray table. My laptop? Forget it!! It stays in the overhead bin.
Who catches the RIAA president using BitTorrent on their laptop to exchange "files"!
This would be news worthy is not for the fact that Boeing already had a wifi internet service. It came out years ago. It did SO well that they discontinued it!
What if I want to jab you in the eye with a fork for being a loud arrogant prick? No? Then STFU and turn the phone off. Or I could just practice playing the trumpet 3 inches from your ear? That be fun, too? No wonder the rest of the world thinks that we're selfish arrogant loudmouths with no consideration for others - we are!
People, generally, speak very differently to others while in their presence than they do while on the phone. Let's look at the example of a moderately busy restaurant at lunchtime (not, say, TGIF during happy hour or kids-eat-free day at IHOP). Most of the time the "annoying" people in the restaurant are people on cell phones.
:)
Why do these cell-phone-people stand out, and why is this even trickier on planes? Several theories:
1) restaurants (and planes) are areas where it has traditionally been impossible and/or impolite to be on the telephone. People are paying quite a bit of money to enjoy their meal/trip, and expect some level of decorum from those around them.
2) When conversing with someone who is next to you, they can also observe the atmosphere and tailor the conversation (content, volume, laughter, emotion) to be appropriate. One party is probably not on the plane, and the party who is tends to get lost in conversation and converse without this regard. Is it the person on the planes responsibility to be polite? Yes. Do cell phones foster this behavior? I say no.
3) WHAT?!?!??! I'M ON THE AIRPLANE? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
4) In a restaurant and in an airplane people often try to converse, get business done, and eat. But planes have other considerations also. People try to watch movies (and no, headphones don't cancel out loud talking), sleep, read, or work diligently on their laptops. Some of these things are pretty hard to do when a large percentage of people are on the phone.
5) Extremely confined spaces mean people can be more irritable, and also require more consideration of others. Airplanes make quite a large number of people nervous, since they often combine numerous phobias/anxieties into one ordeal. Activities which foster respect, quiet, calm, and polite behavior should be fostered (such as movies, reading, sleeping, eating, headphone-music), and activities which don't shouldn't be (everyone on their cell phone, first-class vs coach rugby, or a lan party). Although those things may be rather fun on a plane, they're not exactly calm-enducing
Is there a middle road? Yes, and the airlines have a responsibility to try to promote it. Loud cell phone conversations should be given warnings, and then barred from use on 2nd or 3rd offense. On long haul flights, specific blocks of time should be set aside as no-cell-phone period, say when the lights go out for nap time or a movie is playing. Having some mention of these things by the crew serves a reminder that cell-phone politeness is really important on a plane. Staff shouldn't lie about why cell phones aren't allowed during certain periods, though, that's counter productive.
Do I think airlines care about these things? Maybe. They probably care more about money, though, and that's why they're going in the direction they're going (i.e., no VoIP on wifi, pay for cell phone service, encourage seat-back phone use, etc). As someone who tries to get things done on a plane (business, reading, etc) I welcome the option to use my cell phone at a reasonable rate, but I also feel that I'd be less-productive if everyone (including myself) turns plane rides into Verizon commercials.
Sounds a lot like the argument die-hard smokers make about their "right" to smoke.
Yes, you could issue earplugs to everyone, but why should they alter what they're doing because you're being offensive? If you happen to riddle your speech with profanity, and go to a grade school, the accepted solution is not for you to expect all the children to wear earplugs, it's for you to recognize the social norms of the environment you're in and modify your behavior to match.
Of course, why is the guy next to you an ass for being bothered by your behavior? He's not doing anything offense, he's reacting to something you're doing he finds offensive.
You don't have a right to talk on a cell phone, and you do have a responsibility to your fellow humans.
Kurdt
I'm not anti-social. Just pro-technology.
The idea of WiFi on airplanes is awesome. I'm not sure about cell phones though. I just pray that the pilot isn't jabbering on a cell phone while trying to land and eat lunch.
Ever heard a Sony lithium-ion battery go poofers in a dude's lap before?
It's like a goddamn cannon went off on his junky-junk!
One man's constant is another man's variable.
You'd think this would be the same, but it's not. They're just not. It's the same in restaurants. People on the phone talk much louder than they would to someone sitting next to them. I think it's a combination of trying to get through, having to say more because you're not communicating with body language, and a psychological thing.
There is also something more irritating about someone blathering into a cell phone than having a conversation with someone else who is also there. Psychology again? Some kind of dissonance? The fact that most such people are complete tools?
I don't know, but whatever the reason, it's just more irritating.
demi
Aircell is stupid. I would not be able to stand a person sitting next to me blabbering away on their cell phone the whole flight. Plus imagine how many different conversations there would be. Sitting on a flight for hours can be a real bore, im sure anyone would rather be on the phone with someone, talking about anything, just for entertainment while they're flying. Just use your laptop, and chat with people via internet.
This is so not news. The Wall Street Journal article got a number of details plain wrong.
I wrote extensively about the auctions last summer and AirCell's plan. I checked with AirCell this morning: cell phone service has nothing to do with their short-term interest, and they think it's at best a long-term possibility, but not one they're basing their business on. Here's my interview with the CEO from last June after they won the FCC auction.
Further, on the issues raised here about Boeing's "success" with Connexion, that service required days of installation time, their gear weighed 800 pounds, the antenna added drag, and they had leases for satellite transponders. AirCell is using ground-to-air spectrum via their own ground stations with a lightweight package and little drag that installs fast (overnight).
Freelance tech journalist for the Economist, MIT Technology Review, Macworld, and others
If i can cause the plane to crash using my iPod during takeoff, why can i now use WiFi during the flight?
The "no electronic devices during takeoff and landing" rule has little to do with interfering with the plane's electronics. It's more because if things go wrong during takeoff and landing they expect the passengers to be able to make a quick exit. Hard to do if you have your laptop out and wrapped up in headphones for your ipod, psp, etc. Guess they figure if things go wrong above 10k feet you're either doomed anyway, or if the plane is able to make a crippled landing you'll have time to put your electronics up before you have to deplane. This is also the reason they dim cabin lighting during night takeoffs and landings - the idea is your eyes are more adjusted to the dark, and you can more easily pay attention to things going on outside the plane if you have to make an emergency evacuation.
Phones during flight is a whole other issue. I've been on flights where I've thrown my phone into my carry-on bag and upon leaving the flight realized it was on the whole time. The fact that I'm here typing this makes a good case that it doesn't cause the plane to fall out of the sky. As others have said this regulation probably has more to do with protecting the SkyPhone monopoly and passenger comfort than anything else.
Today I didn't even have to use my AK; I got to say it was a good day -- Icecube
Odd. So do you think that people shouldn't be allowed to talk to other people on airplanes? It should be no easier or harder to block out than people talking on phones. Or is the problem that you can't listen to both ends of the conversation so it's no fun to eavesdrop when somebody is on the phone?
1) People talk at far higher than conversational levels into a cell phone. 2) Just looking at it statistically, most people don't talk on a plane because they often don't know their rowmates. Having a cell phone makes it guaranteed that many people will talk nonstop. 3) Trust me, I don't want to listen to the inane crap that most people will gab about while on a plane.
The commercial aviation industry is currently going through a time period where airlines are desperately seeking an "edge" over their competitors. While other airlines will certainly offer Wi-Fi service in the near future, at the moment this is a competitive advantage for U.S. Airways. U.S Airways is an airline trying its best to successfully merge with Frontier Airlines and Internet service is an excellent marketing tool. The Internet is an essential resource for business travelers as well as the "dot.com" generation of individuals who are obsessed with checking their MySpace and Facebook profiles. Spending so much time on the computer as a student, Wi-Fi would be a great option to make efficient use of my time in the air rather than watching old movies and reading dull magazines. As for the cell phone issue, it is a terrible idea. The noise level in the cabin of hundreds of voices going back and forth with one another would be miserable. However, it is only a matter of time before this scenario will be reality. We are all living in a new generation of dependability on wireless devices. The ability to use those devices while in transit is becoming essential in modern day America.
Ok, so figure the equipment is half the $100,000. That leaves $50,000 for the folks on the "overnight" shift. That's $6250/hour. Let's say there's 10 workers. I imagine any more than that and they'ld be walking on each other. That comes to $625/hr each. I'm guessing the mechanics make about 10% of that, with benefits, which leaves a pretty significant wad of cash for someone.
The Russians have won. They have made the world a cesspool of distrust, greed, fear and hate.
China Airlines used to provide WiFi access on some of their planes.
They also used to provide laptop power on some of their planes.
Not the same planes - therein lies the problem.
Hence, we better make damn sure that the airlines providing WiFi, also provide ample seat-based power.
So, would you consider it acceptable if the person next to you decided to enjoy his music on an airplane? And by enjoying his music, I mean pulling out an 80's style boombox and turning it up? I mean, you can always wear your 50 cent earplugs if you don't like the music.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/20036 49586_webcellphonesplanes03.html
Me lost me cookie at the disco.
Sir, you are a douchebag. When you are a douchebag, you have to live with the fact that the world does not revolve around your douchebagginess, and that you may have to work harder to make the solution that works for the rest of us, work for you.
Inflight wifi has been around for a while, for example the Connexion by Boeing service which was killed last August. Why was it discontinued? "The market for this service has not materialized as had been expected"...
The cell phone digression is now largely irrelevant now that the FCC has announced that it will continue to ban cell phones inflight.
Why are we so fixated on voice? VoIP? Cell phone conversations? Seems like most Americans still believe the mobile phone is just a voice tool. Take Japan, for instance, where *phone calls* have been banned on public transit since forever, but you can make good use of mobile data services like text messaging.
I find it surprising that in America, the possibility of non-obtrusive mobile data use is a minor consideration, while the whole debate about annoying cell phone / VoIP conversations takes center stage.
Shouldn't it be the other way around?
Visual IRC: Fast. Powerful. Free.
Other than as an anti-competitive measure preventing people from using the most competitive provider of a given service (such as phone calls), why exactly should VoIP be prohibited? Are they going to block 'well known' VoIP ports? What if I use an encrypted VPN to tunnel packets? Or is this going to be 'not really' IP connectivity that only offers access to an HTTP proxy? (Which, with my own server on the 'real' net, and appropriate software I could *still* tunnel over to get full IP connectivity)
I have a macbook (not pro) with a spare battery. If I turn off bluetooth, don't use the optical drive, and turn my LCD brightness down at least halfway I can get about 4.5 hours with my battery. I can close the lid and swap out the battery, open it back up and it's back to the desktop (saves to RAM when closed, if battery is removed it saves to HD). Not quite 10 hours, but 9 will do just fine.
Just like driving a car:
(D) to go forward
(R) to go backward
I am so unimpressed with the way everytime a subject of connetivity on planes we all start screaming about cell phones.
The choice of cell phones is upto an airline, not the FAA or FCC. Cell phones on planes is comming and it will be everywhere but the USA.
There will not be 100 shouting people using the phones the system will support 4 people, and call will be aorund $1 per minute.
I am a full time connectivity designer for satcom and aircraft, and hold several patents on the subject, and I have to say:-
I will not be using my phone on any flight, and I will love wifi..
Lets not confuse the two systems.
-- email me @ 30,000 ft
Now, I know that they are not a definitive source of info, but the Mythbusters episode where they tried to interfere with an planes instruments with cell phones and other radio equipment, they showed that it is just not going to happen.
Oh wonderful, here we go again. OK, everyone in the room who's claiming knowledge about infight interference, raise your hand if you have an EE degree. Raise your hand if you know more about avionics than can be absorbed from a teevee entertainment show. Raise your hand if you've actually read the IEEE's coverage of any of this, even just the glossy articles in IEEE Spectrum. Any hands up? I thought not. You wankers, go back to ragging on the PS3.
God DAMN I wish I could stop idly wandering over to SlashDot.
One simple rule for its versus it's
Though I am not one who would really benefit from the service, it's value is not lost on me. In the technical age we live in, it is difficult for people to be removed from their connections for any length of time. Wi-Fi in the air, however, would allow for business trips to begin even before arrival, and allow for more productive business people altogether. For us social folk, the access would keep people in touch with their loved one for the duration of a plane ride, keeping them up-to-date on flight delays, etc.
Try noise cancelling headphones - the big over-the-ear style if you don't like inner ear varieties. They work great to block out plane noise, and don't do a bad job of talking or screaming babies either. Add music and you're all set. :)
Hehehe. Yeah, that'd be a lot of fun, actually. I'd love to watch somebody bust out a trumpet and start playing in a cell phone user's ear. The ensuing battle would be seriously funny stuff -- first the cell phone user would get indignant about the noise (an irony if I've ever seen one), then the trumpeter would pause long enough to toss an insult, then fists would fly. There'd already be at least two flight attendants wondering who on the staff will get sued if one of them starts laughing, being very careful not to actually get involved until someone draws blood.
:)
Then some uninvolved guy who's been sitting there chuckling at the idiots fighting about their beloved noises would get thunked by accident, then he'd stand up and lay them both out cold with a clothesline shot or a couple good right hooks, apologize to the flight attendants and passengers for hitting the assholes, get lots of applause, and go back about his business.
Yeah, people will be rude with their cell phones. Bring earplugs. If you can't handle earplugs, bring noise-canceling headphones. If you can't handle noise-canceling headphones, stick your fingers in your ears or learn to !@#$ing adapt. Obviously you'd have discovered your intense dislike/incompatibility with earplugs and headphones so you should be prepared for dealing with the consequences of that deficiency by now.
People who can't stand earplugs or noise cancelers are equivalent to people who go to concerts, stand by the big speaker stacks, then whine that the music's too loud. You're going to be around other people for a while when you get on an airplane. Please make a note of it, and please learn to deal with it. You'll live longer and have fewer heart problems. I promise.
Read my stuff.
... I can use this URL in flight. Im curios about the reactions.
// dodeesos
http://www.thecleverest.com/countdown.swf
"In swedish it's called räksmörgås."
Way to overanalyze there, pedant. Bet you're fun at parties.
Hey, there's nothing wrong with a little hyperbole - but when you use "5 hours" and "10 minutes" in the same sentence to describe the same flight, it just doesn't work.
Visual IRC: Fast. Powerful. Free.
Hey, there's nothing wrong with a little hyperbole - but when you use "5 hours" and "10 minutes" in the same sentence to describe the same flight, it just doesn't work.
Well, if you *want* to be a pedant, it does still work as I put it. Let's apply a Poisson distribution to this problem and effectively treat it as a queue. If we have a 5 hour flight, I'm in audible range (for loud cell calls) of 100 people, and my friend has an average of 10 minutes or less between cell calls, and he's representative of all people on the plane, then 1) how many actual minutes of cell-free do I have on the flight? and 2) how many annoying conversations and I hearing at once? Answers: 1) not many; and 2) a lot. That's the point of the 10 minutes/5 hours part. The shorter the duration of his time between calls, the more miserable my 5 hour flight.
If you're going to go pedant, make sure you win!
Cripes! We dodged a bullet on the FCC saying no to cell phones in the air for the time being. Seriously, screaming babies are bad enough. I really don't want to be stuck on a plane while the person next to me has some inane conversation or attempt to look busy when I have nowhere to go. Wi-Fi would be great but if people can't live for a few hours without talking on the phone, then they really should be flying in a personal jet or not flying. The rest of us deserve our peace. Say no to in-flight VoIP!
Regards, Ian
This is somehow going to turn into a scam for airlines to make more money.
Pretty soon, when you go to buy a ticket, you will probably see something like this...
Round Trip STL - JFK Option 1: Seating section w/ cell phone usage allowed - $400 Option 2: Seating section without cell phone usage allowed - $600
Thanks for flying with us!
It's going to be like smoking/non-smoking sections in restaurants, only with a cost association.
Those arguements are entirely valid. Smokers have a right to smoke. Whether or not they have the right to do so around you is another matter. Also, I propose a ban on farting in public places, not only is it smelly but the increased methane content in the air around has not been proven to hurt those around you, but it's possible it might.
Two tears in a bucket. Motherfuck it.
If they want to lift the ban in in-flight cell phones, they need to install what are called pico-cells onboard the planes. That way the cell phones on the plane connect to the cell "tower" on the plane and leave the ones on the ground alone.
If you reply, do so only to what I explicitly wrote. If I didn't write it, don't assume or infer it.
Just because something is legal doesn't mean you have a right to do it. Take driving; the government makes it very clear it's not a right, it's a privilege. I suggest you pay a bit more attention to the wording of things next time.
Kurdt
I'm not anti-social. Just pro-technology.
More interestingly, whats the point of providing in-flight WiFi if many airlines are not-allowing (at least some brands of) laptops on-board?
"Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen, this is senior flight attendant Jane Doe here, and we'd like to welcome you aboard this 32-hour non-stop flight from London to Auckland.
Among the many comforts we are offering to our passengers on this cross-planet flight, WiFi is available in all areas of the Aircraft, however if you own a laptop manufactured by Dell, HP, Apple, IBM/Lenovo or any other manufacturer, we ask that you please don't turn it on, just in case the battery catches fire.
If you do have a device capable of using WiFi, we don't know how to configure it. If you aren't a geek, there is probably one in your row - ask him/her.
Please remember there is no smoking aboard this flight, no standing in the aisles and the in-flight movie is Biodome with Pauly Shore.
Due to some technical difficulties, the gaming system doesn't work correctly, and you can't switch the movie or radio channel. If you would still like to listen to something, headphones are $50.
We would like to remind passengers that they should keep your seat-belt fastened at all times, and for your own safety, don't turn towards the fat guy next to you unless you want to get your nose stuck in his arse-crack, and if you need to go to the bathroom, please hold it in instead of asking him to get out of his seat because that will shift the balance of the plane.
The drink-cart will be coming down the aisle shortly after takeoff, and once again shortly before we land. If you happen to have an aisle seat, please ensure you keep your arms and legs confined to your seat space at all times.
If you have any questions or needs, don't ask us because we really don't give a damn, and we just want to sit up the front and relax during our free intercontinental flight, like you would like to if you only had as much leg room as we have.
From myself and the rest of the cabin crew, we would like to thank you for flying Shaft-U Airways and hope you have a pleasant flight."
(OK, that was a bit longer than I expected to write, and a bit of a lie - I've never had *THAT* horrible service on any flights in the past few years, even with some of the cutbacks some airlines are making, but then again, I tend to fly only 4 and 5-star airlines, such as Emirates, Cathay, Gulf and Singapore... and sometimes Finnair. Then again, I've never flown any of the US-based Airlines).
Founder & COO, Hayai India (hayai.in) / USA (hayaibroadband.com)
Actually, I live in a country without a written constitution, therefore I can say whatever the hell I want to about rights.
Two tears in a bucket. Motherfuck it.