Mobiles on planes from 2006

Using mobile phones on planes is set to become a reality from as soon as next year - and an all-too-familiar sight by 2010.

Consultancy Booz Allen Hamilton said the market is now ripe for the development of in-flight phone calls and a number of airlines are predicted to offer such a service from 2006.

Booz Allen Hamilton is predicting the services will start to experience substantial growth from 2008, with annual growth rates of between 30 and 60 per cent. By 2010, there will be 100 million people using the service, according to the consultancy, generating €2bn within Europe alone by the end of the decade.

The growth in the market will run in parallel to call prices lowering, although costs will initially remain higher than usual roaming tariffs. Price per minute is expected to be €1 when services are introduced, sinking to between €0.75 and €0.50.