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Story URL: http://networks.silicon.com/mobile/0,39024665,39166888,00.htm

In-flight texts to take off in the US?
But on-board calls take a nosedive

By Gemma Simpson

Published: Wednesday 25 April 2007

US budget airline JetBlue is considering an in-flight text messaging service but does not want noisy mobile phone calls on its aircraft.

David Neeleman, founder and chief executive of JetBlue, said text communications could prove attractive but agrees with the misgivings of many US airline executives about the on-board use of mobiles for voice calls.

A spokeswoman for JetBlue told silicon.com in-flight text messaging could happen in the near future and said if the company allows mobiles on its flights then they will only be used as "silent options" - meaning passengers would be allowed to send and receive text messages and listen to voicemails but incoming and outgoing calls would be barred.

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The movement to make mile-high mobiles a reality is gathering pace at other airlines too - Ryanair is planning to allow mobile access on all its flights by mid-2007 and Australian national carrier Qantas has been given the green light to start an in-flight mobile trial of SMS and email.

Air France was due to launch an in-flight mobile service last month but was forced to delay it until the summer. It will now kick-off a six-month mobile trial - including data services and voice calls - in July.