AeroMobile
Airborne Mobile Connectivity
Keeping you in touch with your world below.

Billion's of people use mobile phone technology to communicate with one another and everyday more than 1 million people fly in commercial airliners. AeroMobile provides a safe, cost-effective way of allowing narrow and widebody aircraft passengers use of their mobile phones and PDA’s while in flight—just as they would on the ground.

Bringing passenger mobile phone services safely and responsibly into the aircraft cabin demands a specific blend of technical and commercial capabilities. AeroMobile's proven key strengths include expertise in aircraft safety, systems and operations, mobile telecommunications systems/services, cellular roaming/regulatory affairs and globally competitive pricing.

Maximising the economics of delivery and in service operation has also resulted in a teaming agreement with Panasonic Avionics Corporation. Under this agreement Panasonic forms a primary reseller of AeroMobile’s hardware, opening the door for a new wave of communication options that can be uniquely integrated into Panasonic IFE platforms. The result is a low maintenance system with reduced complexity due to reuse of IFE infrastructure. The result is Panasonic eXPhone.

From a user experience perspective a passengers mobile phone will simply detect the AeroMobile network, whilst in flight, just as it would when roaming terrestrially. Calls or data transfers are charged to the passenger through their own mobile telecommunications company. The airline shares in the revenue stream from phone usage. Use of the AeroMobile network is simple and convenient with call charges automatically billed at tariffs comparable to international roaming rates on the ground.

The system provides a comprehensive package of services:

• Up to 10 simultaneous voice calls (per GSM base station access point, multiple base stations per aircraft are possible), incoming or outgoing
• Unlimited text messaging (SMS) services, incoming or outgoing
• GPRS (general packet radio service) device support
• Caller ID, incoming and outgoing

AeroMobile is the only operator with the capability of providing mobile voice and text messaging using the existing ‘Classic’ Inmarsat satellite communications systems installed in over 2,000 commercial airliners. AeroMobile can also support data services, such as email and internet browsing over GPRS and WiFi/Live IP where the aircraft has higher bandwidth communications systems such as Inmarsat's Swift64, SwiftBroadband or Ku-band satellite services.

AeroMobile's technology can be easily and progressively enhanced with greater capacity and capability as new satellite systems come on stream.

Many aspects of AeroMobile are automated to ensure regulatory compliance, such as automatic system activation and deactivation when above or below the minimum system operating altitude. In addition, the crew panel allows cabin crew to control and monitor the phone system service levels through a high-quality, colour touch screen display, including:

• Monitoring mobile phone usage, such as number of connected phones and active calls, during flight
• Performing built-in system tests, such as sending and receiving test messages
• Managing service levels for appropriate times of day (e.g., day or night flights)
• Overriding automatic settings to turn system on or off manually
• Setting service levels to assign priority to cabin crew phones

For system management and oversight on the ground, AeroMobile also provides a comprehensive package of Web-based tools and 24/7 support. Features such as an online customer portal allow near real-time access to usage data and trends.

AeroMobile Ltd is jointly owned by ARINC Inc and Telenor ASA, combining the experience and expertise of two companies that are acknowledged as leaders in their fields.