In an earlier post, we saw that Skyping from the Sky was possible, if not encouraged, while on flying. But USA Today tells us that many other countries allow and even promote it, since they make money from it.
U.S., Federal regulations prohibit in-flight cell phone use because they may interfere with flight operations and create congestion in ground cell towers. But with many airlines offering inflight Wi-Fi, the issue of Internet-based phone calls has become an issue. Perhaps because it is possible to access VoIP services through cell phones these days, which further blurs the line.
A bill in Congress currently seeks a similar ban on all in-flight voice communications by passengers. While airlines in Europe, Asia and the Middle East allow calls and have even taken it a step further by introducing pay-by-minute cellphone service using satellites. There are two companies in the USA that offer in-flight Internet service to airlines: Chicago-based Aircell and California-based Row 44. Both companies say the airlines have asked that Internet-based phone calls be blocked.
Frederick St. Amour, a business development executive at Row 44 says travelers making Internet phone calls “create competition for bandwidth” that could result in slower speed for other passengers. But how many passengers at a time would be using the service, especially if airlines are charging for it?
It may be just another illustration of the ways in which America is falling behind in technology. American companies seem resistant to change and would rather ban the freedom to talk with internet speed while flying at jet speed than find a way to provide the service. From cell phone technology to high speed internet, America is no longer a world leader, and the airlines certainly don’t seem to be doing much to move the US up in the rankings.