Shenzhen Airlines announces in-flight cellphone, internet service

Having already brought its in-flight cellphone and internet service to Europe and Australia, Swiss-based OnAir is now giving passengers in China some added in-flight convenience/annoyance of their own, with it finding a partner in the country's Shenzhen Airlines. Much like Boeing's recent ill-fated Connexion experiment, OnAir's service will let you use your own cellphone to make calls or send text messages, with in-flight internet thrown in for good measure (and an added price, no doubt). Those heading to or from China won't be able to whip out their phones and laptops just yet though, with the company saying they only expect the service to be up and running by mid-2009, although they hope to have three demonstration aircraft ready in time for the Beijing Olympics next year.

[Hans Verbeeck @ Sep 3rd 2007 11:34AM]

Nice! 300 people chatting loud for hours in a row. From now on, instead of taking a headphone to connect to my Zune, I'm taking speakers!

[Javi0084 @ Sep 3rd 2007 11:57AM]

Buy yourself a good pair of noise canceling headphones and problem solved. Better yet, don't fly Shenzhen Airlines.

[Nomi @ Sep 3rd 2007 12:24PM]

Itll be expensive, only those desperate will use. Just like wi-fi on planes. 40 bux for an hour!!

[Hans Verbeeck @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:35PM]

Won't the noise canceling headphones make the converstations even clearer? (Unless all conversations together would produce a noise).

[Irfan @ Sep 3rd 2007 1:35PM]

right, because everyone that has a cellphone in the world talks on it nonstop.

[Crayola @ Sep 3rd 2007 11:46AM]

Betcha one Benjamin you can't find anything about Tiananmen Square Massacre or the Tank Man on Shenzhen Airline in-flight internet access.

[jimmyfinch @ Sep 4th 2007 8:27PM]

In-Flight Cell Service?

You don't need an In-Flight Cell Service.

Didn't the planes hijacked on 9/11 have several crystal clear calls made from them at cruising altitude?

I think someone is trying to pull one over on us.

[David @ Sep 18th 2007 10:24AM]

I don't think that was cruising altitude, the PA one was pretty close to the ground.

Also, if your plane is already hijacked, you don't really care of the autopilot is working or not.

[compudude @ Sep 29th 2007 9:03PM]

I like the seemingly brandless ibook in the picture