"Please turn off all cellular phones before takeoff," is an announcement air-travelers have gotten used to hearing. Thanks to new Israeli technology, though, the in-flight cellular phone ban may become a thing of the past.
Qualcomm Israel, a subsidiary of the US-based Qualcomm, has developed technology which would allow for clear, safe cellular phone calls to be made while riding in an airplane. This past summer, the company carried out tests, together with American Airlines, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the satellite-based air-to-ground cellular service, Israel21c.org reported.
The successful test demonstrated in-cabin voice communications using commercially available CDMA mobile phones and an in-flight third-generation (3G) 'picocell' network. "During the flight, we were able to support about 10 calls, as well as SMS text messages," Qualcomm Israel's Boaz Bryger told Israel21c. "We tried every combination - incoming and outgoing, from mobile to mobile, land to mobile, etc... The voice quality was good, and the system was stable." Bryger directs engineering at the company's Israel headquarters and headed the engineering team that was in charge of the project.
Qualcomm's "pico-cell" technology consists of a laptop computer sized Base Station Sytem which acts as a cellular antenna within the aircraft. The pico-cell then beams the voice-data via satellite to the ground networks.
"The key attributes of the new reference design is the improved size - which influences the cost. The other key attribute is that the cellular infrastructure is implemented using internet technology." explained Bryger. "The interface between the BSC and the base station and the cellular switch are all based on IP (internet protocol) standards. What we've developed is an IP-based wireless access network."
According to USA Today, developers believe that travelers will use their cell phones while in the air if they are charged less than a dollar a minute. Customers would pay by entering their credit card numbers upon placing a call, or may just have the charges added to their monthly cell phone bills.
Qualcomm Israel, a subsidiary of the US-based Qualcomm, has developed technology which would allow for clear, safe cellular phone calls to be made while riding in an airplane. This past summer, the company carried out tests, together with American Airlines, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the satellite-based air-to-ground cellular service, Israel21c.org reported.
The successful test demonstrated in-cabin voice communications using commercially available CDMA mobile phones and an in-flight third-generation (3G) 'picocell' network. "During the flight, we were able to support about 10 calls, as well as SMS text messages," Qualcomm Israel's Boaz Bryger told Israel21c. "We tried every combination - incoming and outgoing, from mobile to mobile, land to mobile, etc... The voice quality was good, and the system was stable." Bryger directs engineering at the company's Israel headquarters and headed the engineering team that was in charge of the project.
Qualcomm's "pico-cell" technology consists of a laptop computer sized Base Station Sytem which acts as a cellular antenna within the aircraft. The pico-cell then beams the voice-data via satellite to the ground networks.
"The key attributes of the new reference design is the improved size - which influences the cost. The other key attribute is that the cellular infrastructure is implemented using internet technology." explained Bryger. "The interface between the BSC and the base station and the cellular switch are all based on IP (internet protocol) standards. What we've developed is an IP-based wireless access network."
According to USA Today, developers believe that travelers will use their cell phones while in the air if they are charged less than a dollar a minute. Customers would pay by entering their credit card numbers upon placing a call, or may just have the charges added to their monthly cell phone bills.