I can "second" the cell phone may interfere with the cargo supression system, as I have also flown that a/c. Also, I know for a FACT that the iphone when searching for a signal WILL interfere with our communications. There is an annoying and somewhat loud buzz and ticking noise in the background. This also happened with those annoying nextel walkie talkie phones.
The bottom line is... JUST FOLLOW THE RULES. And again... there may be slight variations to all the policies depending on which airline you're flying on. Again... with EIGHT connection partners and mainline, that brings NINE manuals and nine approvals from the FAA. They're not all exactly the same. So before you go blaming the FA for being lazy, overbearing or poorly trained think about the reasons behind why things are done. Or, just forget about WHY things happen and just follow the rules.
I am duly, and appropriately, chastised regarding the FA training comment.
Thanks, too, for the inside technical perspective on the issue.
Unfortunately, between the self-absorbed folks, and those who cannot forgo a single moment of enjoying their latest Apple-produced device (techno-eroticism), compliance with this particular FAA requirement seems to be degrading.
At the risk of being chastised again, I have to observe that there is a wide diversity in the vigor with which FAs enforce the requirement... in terms of walking past someone obviously violating the regulation and not doing anything about it. It leaves me curious, how much emphasis does this matter receive within DL?