Texting the Friendly Skies
In this day and age, there are two places where cellphone use remains an impossibility: underground and on airplanes. The later restriction may soon change, thanks to a device filled for a patent today by ASiQ, Mobiledia reports. The gadget, which hooks into a cell phone via a cable or Bluetooth connection, is compatible with all existing cell networks and communicates with other cell phones via existing aviation communication networks, simultaneously saving money on data transmission and preventing any sort of screw ups with the plane's equipment that could cause it to plunge from the sky, or any other such unpleasantness.
There's one caveat, though, which will, if nothing else, prevent your flying experience from being overwhelmed by inane chatter: the device cuts off your cell phone's transmitter (the part that causes the interference with the controls), so while you can still send text messages (letting the person who's picking you up know that your plane is delayed, for example), you can't actually call anyone. Boeing is currently planning tests in some of its planes, so you may see people texting madly from the seat next to you some time in the near future.
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By Reden, August 1, 2006 @ 10:07 am
Great news! Cell phone signals do block plane transmissions and are thus dangerous to attempt in flight. This technology not only changes that,it also opens up to new possibilities. When would they cover underground calls next?