In-flight cell calls can't annoy fliers, but Net calls can

Iria · Dec 1, 2005, 01:20 AM

It's only a matter of time before there is a Skype-related casualty aboard an airplane.

Let's say you're on an airliner, just settling in for a long flight. The little bag of Snack Mix lands on your tray table and you wonder what, exactly, is the make-up of those brown twig things stuffed in among the pretzel nuggets.

About then, the flight attendant says it's OK to use "approved electronic devices." These include laptops, portable video games and MP3 players. But the flight attendant, as usual, warns that no one is allowed to turn on a cellphone or any wireless communication device. (Related item: Kevin Maney's blog)

Which is good, this cellphone ban. Not for the official reasons they tell us. Who really believes a cellphone signal is going to scramble cockpit controls and bring down a jet? If flying were that tenuous, nobody would ever leave the ground.

The cellphone ban is good because it prevents passengers from getting pummeled. Especially passengers who believe they're so important they must be on the phone every minute of their existence. The pummelers would be those louts' fellow passengers.

So in that way, at least, the cellphone ban saves lives.

But these days, there is a new wrinkle. Say you're on El Al or maybe SAS or Lufthansa — one of the airlines that offers broadband Internet during flights for about $30 a trip. There are a lot of positives. You can do e-mail. You can get some Christmas shopping done. You can watch videos of curling.

But then the guy next to you boots up Skype.
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Read More / Source: USA Today

Dec 1, 2005, 01:20 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 87	In-flight cell calls can't annoy fliers, but Net calls can It's only a matter of time before there is a Skype-related casualty aboard an airplane. Let's say you're on an airliner, just settling in for a long flight. The little bag of Snack Mix lands on your tray table and you wonder what, exactly, is the make-up of those brown twig things stuffed in among the pretzel nuggets. About then, the flight attendant says it's OK to use "approved electronic devices." These include laptops, portable video games and MP3 players. But the flight attendant, as usual, warns that no one is allowed to turn on a cellphone or any wireless communication device. (Related item: Kevin Maney's blog) Which is good, this cellphone ban. Not for the official reasons they tell us. Who really believes a cellphone signal is going to scramble cockpit controls and bring down a jet? If flying were that tenuous, nobody would ever leave the ground. The cellphone ban is good because it prevents passengers from getting pummeled. Especially passengers who believe they're so important they must be on the phone every minute of their existence. The pummelers would be those louts' fellow passengers. So in that way, at least, the cellphone ban saves lives. But these days, there is a new wrinkle. Say you're on El Al or maybe SAS or Lufthansa — one of the airlines that offers broadband Internet during flights for about $30 a trip. There are a lot of positives. You can do e-mail. You can get some Christmas shopping done. You can watch videos of curling. But then the guy next to you boots up Skype. ___________ Read More / Source: USA Today