Qantas Chooses AeroMobile

Wednesday, September 24:

AeroMobile, the award-winning in-flight communications provider, announced today it would roll out its technology on Qantas domestic aircraft in the coming months, allowing customers to send/receive email and SMS via their mobile phone or personal electronic device.

Qantas led the industry in evaluating AeroMobile’s technology on a B767-300 aircraft between April 2007 and January 2008. An overwhelming majority of passengers involved in the evaluation indicated they wanted access to in-flight connectivity on an ongoing basis”.

AeroMobile chief executive Bjorn-Taale Sandberg said: “As the pioneer of in-flight cellular services, we are delighted that we are now entering into full service with Qantas Airways’ domestic fleet.

“The evaluation project proved that there is a substantial demand from passengers to keep in touch with colleagues, friends and family on both shorter routes and longer transcontinental flights.”

AeroMobile has developed the technology which allows mobile phones and portable devices to be used safely inflight without interference to aircraft systems or the ground communication network.

The AeroMobile system used on the earlier evaluation supported sms text messaging and mobile email and phone services such as the popular BlackBerry services. For the domestic fleet deployment the Qantas aircraft will be installed with the very latest Inmarsat satellite system – SwiftBroadband -  to link the aircraft to the ground.

"Customers wanting to send or receive an SMS will require only a GSM phone and a global roaming account, while customers wanting to send or receive emails will need a GPRS enabled device like a Blackberry or an appropriately equipped laptop," Mr Sandberg said.

The technology would initially be installed on a number of domestic B767-300 and A330-200 aircraft. The aircraft will operate on varied routes throughout Australia and to New Zealand.

Qantas and AeroMobile have worked closely with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) and other agencies to ensure the system fully complies with Australian regulatory and legal requirements.

Notes to Editors
AeroMobile Limited is a UK-based company owned by ARINC Inc and Telenor ASA. It has been pursuing the objective of allowing the safe use of passengers own mobile phones and PDAs since 2003 in response to market demands. AeroMobile is the first in-flight mobile technology to be commercially available and first flew in June 2005 on Boeing’s 777-200LR ‘Worldliner’ demonstrator aircraft. 

AeroMobile is teamed with Panasonic Avionics Corporation, the Panasonic’s market-leading in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems provider, to offer the AeroMobile aircraft technology under the eXPhone brand as an integral part of Panasonic’s IFE systems.

Together, AeroMobile and Panasonic were awarded the “Best Achievement in Technology 2008” award from the World Airline Entertainment Association (WEAA)  this September.

For more information contact:
Steve Double or Charlie Hampton
at Bell Pottinger Business & Brand
Telephone: 020 7861 2449/2431
E-Mail: champton@bell-pottinger.co.uk