: Jet passengers may not get to chat on cellphones after all -- but ...

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Bob Frankston <Bob19-0501 () bobf frankston com>
Date: March 23, 2007 2:21:37 AM EDT
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: Jet passengers may not get to chat on cellphones after all  
-- but ...

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2007-03-21-fcc- 
usat_N.htm



After I sent this the first time I mulled a little and it’s possible  
that the cellular carriers may find this to be their worst nightmare  
because if Wi-Fi is allowed then we’ll be forced to use VoIP instead  
of cellar and that may break cellular’s control on wireless voice. I  
hope JetBlue doesn’t try to do us favors with just (AKA, flying  
Blackberries – or Raspberries) messaging and instead provides general  
IP access. Same for AirCell which mentions web surfing and corporate  
networks – I worry that they will do proxies and then waste a lot of  
money and time wondering why people aren’t making full use of their  
services. The danger is that the Blackberry users will provide enough  
revenue to make it look like a success because few will realize how  
much more, very very much more, is possible.



How many times to I have to remind people that the Internet has  
nothing to do with telecom other than using it as a transport and  
doing a far better job at doing telecom by letting people create  
their own solutions?



Jet passengers may not get to chat on cellphones after all


By Paul Davidson, USA TODAY

The once-highflying idea of letting passengers use their wireless  
phones on airplanes is about to be grounded.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is  
recommending the FCC drop its tentative plan to lift its ban on in- 
flight cellphone use, three agency officials say. They asked to  
remain anonymous because the proposal is still being considered



….



[[While it’s nice that they are considering Wi-Fi I can’t help but  
think of the Federal Speech Commission once again extending its  
mission to keep us from things that annoy some people]]



. . .



Blumenstein says. A $10-per-trip AirCell service slated to roll out  
by early 2008 would let passengers use Wi-Fi-equipped laptops to e- 
mail, surf the Web and access corporate networks. JetBlue, meanwhile,  
has said it may introduce an in-flight e-mail and text-messaging  
service later this year.





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