In-flight mobile phone provider, AeroMobile reached a new milestone this week with the first full service entry of its system on a Boeing 777 aircraft. The system is now operational on a Boeing 777-300 of its launch customer Emirates, enabling the airlineÃ's passengers to safely use their mobile phones to make voice calls and send SMS text messages. This is first time such services have been implemented on Boeing 777 commercial flights anywhere in the world.
The AeroMobile system was launched with Emirates in March, when it was installed on one of the airlineÃ's Airbus A340-300 aircraft, enabling the worldÃ's first authorised mobile phone calls on a commercial flight. Emirates is continuing to install the system on all its aircraft and currently has 10 aircraft installed with the system including Airbus A340-300, A340-500, A330-200 and Boeing 777 aircraft. Installations are progressing during regular scheduled maintenance and now take less than 2 days to complete.
The EmiratesÃ' Boeing 777-300 with the system installed is operating a variety of routes for the Dubai-based international airline, including flights to Europe and Australia.
AeroMobile chief executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg said: "The installation of our system on board EmiratesÃ' Boeing 777 aircraft is another first for AeroMobile, and clearly demonstrates our ability to offer our technology to airlines using either Boeing or Airbus aircraft. The number of Boeing 777s operated by Emirates and other AeroMobile customers means that this introduction is a key step in allowing passengers to keep in touch when they fly."
"There has been overwhelmingly positive feedback since the service launched in March, with between 40 to 60 per cent of passengers switching on their phones on flights where the service is available," he added.
As expected, the majority of calls are made on daytime flights with minimal use on night flights. The average length of calls is around 2.5 minutes. Passengers are not only using the system for phone calls as the text messaging capability is also proving very popular.
Emirates has guidelines for the appropriate use of phones on board, including requesting passengers to have their phones switched to "silent" mode during the flights. The airlineÃ's award-winning cabin crew are also able to control and monitor use of the system and will be in full control of its use throughout flights.
Posted to the site on 31st July 2008
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/32774.php