Ellen Wallace
Sad but true: we don’t know what the guy (odds are it was a guy) said when he made the news-making first authorized in-flight mobile phone call
on a commercial flight 20 March. He was flying between Dubai and Casablanca where AeroMobile was put to work for the first time. Good news for technology, although some of us who don’t like to be available all of the time will view this as another free spot disappearing. Worse, our travelling neighbours will now be able to use their phones.
But what did he say, that’s what I really want to know. Neil Armstrong rehearsed his moon walk line, but was this first cell phone call earthshaking, personal, or just more business, I wonder.
Was it:
"Hi, Hon, we’re touching down soon, so put the kebabs on."
or
"How the hell did you reach me here?"
or
"It’s a deal. We’ll sign when I land."
or
"Hi. Guess what. We’re flying. Yeah, clouds out the window. No, not much. Love you. Love you. Yeah, me too. Bye. See you soon. I’ll call when we land. Sure, I’ll call when I head for the baggage area. Bye. Bye."
or – I leave it to your imagination, but if I have to sit next to cell phone callers on flights, I just wish they’d use a little more imagination for their chatter than the people I hear on trains and buses.
AeroMobile is a joint venture between Telenor and ARINC. According
to Telenor, "AeroMobile will facilitate the start of regular and safe
use of mobile telephony and data services onboard airplanes."
GenevaLunch, 26 March 2008.
Filed under: Technology
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.