AeroMobile and Emirates announces world first for in-flight mobile phone use

London,UK, November 8, 2006: AeroMobile, the pioneering provider of mobile phone services to airlines, today announced Emirates as the world’s first airline to introduce in-flight mobile phone use for passengers.

AeroMobile allows passengers the choice and convenience of safely using their own mobile phones in flight to stay in contact with family, friends and colleagues by phone and text messaging. AeroMobile, based in Crawley, West Sussex, has developed an aircraft system which controls the power output of all mobile phones down to the minimum level allowing their safe use onboard aircraft.

The Dubai-based airline expects to launch the service on board one of its Boeing 777s as early as January 2007, once all necessary approvals have been granted.

AeroMobile president David Poltorak said: "We are delighted that Emirates has taken the lead in introducing our service across its fleet. This is a historic step forward for the aviation industry.

"We believe that the ability to communicate efficiently, easily and safely when on board flights will become an essential feature of business and leisure travel."

“We are currently talking to a number of other airlines about extending the service to their fleets.”

AeroMobile’s aircraft system includes a number of features that will allow users to talk or text discreetly and maintain the privacy of other passengers.  This includes the ability for cabin crew to control the system at any time, plus select operating modes appropriate to particular flights. For example, crew may disable voice service and select text only operation mode for overnight flights. 

Passengers will be instructed and encouraged to switch phones to silent or vibrate mode at all times throughout the flight. Up to five calls may be made at at any one time, the same number as for the current in-seat phones used regularly by Emirates' passengers.

Emirates chairman and chief executive H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum said: “As the world leader in innovation for our customers, we are delighted to offer the choice of mobile phone use to passengers who would like to make contact with friends, family or colleagues while flying with us.

"The option of mobile phone use will be available under guidelines that recognise and respect the privacy of all our customers.

“We will be making life easier for those for whom staying in touch has become an important part of their everyday lives. Our research tells us our customers would appreciate the option of making a call.”

Emirates’ passengers have been extensive users of in-flight communications services for the last several years, demonstrating that there is significant demand for in-flight communications services. The breakthrough that has been made by AeroMobile brings convenient and cost-effective personal communications to those flying on Emirates.

The AeroMobile system has been developed over the last four years and is possible now because of AeroMobile’s aircraft and ground network technology but also due to the emergence of new telecoms regulations. Calls are linked to the ground using the Inmarsat satellite communications system already installed on all Emirates’ aircraft.

The implementation of the AeroMobile system on Emirates aircraft will make this capability even more convenient with Emirates' passengers being able to use their own phones, access their address books and contact lists, and have calls billed to their regular phone bills as with any other roaming call. Calls and texts will be billed at tariffs comparable to international roaming tariffs.

Emirates and AeroMobile plan to add GPRS data and internet capability to the system the Inmarsat satellite communications systems are upgraded later in 2007. This will allow the use of BlackBerrys®, Palm Treos® and mobile data-enabled PDAs and laptop PCs for email and Internet access from the aircraft.
In all instances on aircraft where the AeroMobile system is not installed, existing rules banning the use of mobile phones by passengers remain in force at all times. Mobile phones must remain switched off for the duration of the flight in accordance with current aviation regulatory requirements. Passengers must continue to follow the instructions of the cabin staff at all times regarding the use of mobile phones and other portable electronic devices.

ENDS

AeroMobile Limited is a joint venture formed between ARINC Inc and Telenor ASA. Headquartered in the Crawley, West Sussex, AeroMobile provides a complete solution to airlines and aircraft operators who wish to offer in-flight mobile (cellular) communications services to their passengers and staff.  AeroMobile is the first in-flight mobile communications technology to be commercially available.  The AeroMobile system interfaces to existing or future aircraft-to-ground communications systems and is designed to be fully compliant with required aircraft certification/airworthiness requirements and ground telecommunications regulatory requirements.  More information is available at www.aeromobile.net