Emirates to offer in-flight mobile phone service
As one group abandons its in-flight Wi-Fi Internet access, another hopes to be more successful with an on-board mobile phone service for air passengers. Emirates Airline has signed up for a new in-flight mobile phone service offered by AeroMobile Ltd., a joint venture between communications and systems engineering vendor Arinc Inc. and Norwegian telecommunications service provider Telenor ASA, the companies said Friday.
The Dubai airline expects to launch the service on board one of its Boeing 777 airplanes early next year, provided it receives necessary approval.
AeroMobile joins OnAir, a joint in-flight mobile phone venture between European aircraft manufacturer Airbus SAS and SITA Inc., a provider of air transport IT services. Last year British carrier BMI (formerly British Midland Airlines Ltd.) and TAP-Air Portugal agreed to introduce OnAir's new in-flight voice and text messaging service on European flights after receiving approval.
