To my fellow mileage plus-ers. To make our miles fly by faster a new service starts in mid August that is supposed to allow calls in flight worldwide. Since you can access the web through the phone you should be able to get your laptop online at the same time. This isn't a UA service and it's not cell phone technology.

I can't post an ad for it cause there isn't one yet. I don't know what it looks like or what it will cost. I don't even know how it works. I can send you what info I have but there's no prices or descriptions or website so we're all in the same boat.... 'er plane.

id much rather have free WIFI onboard. then i can Skype call anyone's phone via the WIFI web connection.

I think this would free you up from needing a wireless signal at all. I use Skype too but I can't carry my laptop around in my pocket like this. And it will do video calls just the same. Now if you don't have a cell phone and just use your laptop then this wouldn't be for you, other than not needing to find a hotspot.

I am VERY skeptical that this is true.

Since you don't have a cell phone then you don't need this. But it would eliminate having to search for a hot spot signal. I like carrying around something in my pocket for a video call instead of a laptop.

AirTran had wi-fi on board on my flight. It was heavenly! $13 for the 4 hour flight. Well worth it! Another reason UA has lost my SEA-MKE business. Could use laptops, smartphones, etc. Better connection than in my hotel room!

I don't believe SKYPE works on planes with WiFi. VoIP is disabled inflight.

I doubt there is any technical hindrance to do voice call from air planes. Maybe the reason why phone calls are very restricted to the expensive in-seat phone is that it would be horrible if half of the passenger would talk on a phone during the flight. It's a way to confined space to have so many conversations going on at the same time. People would start talking louder and louder because they can't hear their own conversation. I don't think that would be a good sight in an airliner.

BTW, what vapor ware are you advertising. Any references, sources, etc?

Here's the little I have. The 2nd bullet is about while flying. Maybe someone smarter than me can make something out of this. I think they're saying "cell phone" only because this is the technology most people are familiar with and what it would emulate. But that 2nd bullet means it can't use current cell technology.

Roger

� If you could easily make cell phone to cell phone calls to and from anyone in the world without roaming, long distance, connection charges, or per minute fees of any kind, would you want to know more?
� Did you know that there is technology that will enable you to talk on your cell phone while flying in a commercial aircraft from coast to coast, without violating the �no cell phone� law, and at 0 cents per minute?
� If you could get FREE and UNLIMITED access to VIDEO CONFERENCES with or without a video phone, and for up to 23 people simultaneously, would you say YES?
� Did you know that you can have your own professional grade PBX phone system at your home or office that can route and control the cost of your personal, business, fax, VoIP, audio and video conference, and even your cell phone calls from anywhere in the world, for less than the cost of a single phone?
� Did you know that the technology exists that will allow FREE VoIP calls on Internet connections as slow as dial-up, that is, NOT requiring EXPENSIVE Broadband connections?
� If you could browse the internet on your laptop at broadband speeds, using your cell phone to connect, while simultaneously talking on the same phone, at 0 cents per minute, and with UNLIMITED data download, with no data card, no credit check, and no contract for as little as $10 a month �unlimited,� would you be impressed?

Please follow in our Travel Technology forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, United forum.

The thing about anything that can bypass the "no calling" blocks, is that the software can be adapted in a matter of hours to block anything that tries to bypass it

I think I know what/who the article is talking about, but I have a feeling it is more vaporware than anything else.

When I lived in Dubai, they used to block VOIP and it was a cat and mouse game. Even though the Government spent millions on blocking the technology, they were always six months behind the curve. Unless the airlines are willing to block VPNs (which will lose them a lot of corporate business), they can't stop VOIP. If people jump from Fring to Nimbuz, to whatever, I suspect that this problem will go on.

The bigger problem that these people will face is that the person in the seat next to them, behind them, or in front of them is likely to snitch them out to the stewardess. Google voice will allow you to text message with your friends. Then there is IMs. I'm not sure that there is anything that compelling to require in flight calls.

The difference is that "The Internet" uses far more routes than the single route from plane to ground station as used on a plane. It's far easier for them to look at traffic and block it instantly. There is no cat and mouse on these kind of connections - the NOC can look at traffic on a second-by-second basis and shut something down.

Googling a phrase from post 9, it's easy to find the company that is (will be) promoting this.

They're pushing it as a home-based network marketing opportunity.

Add me to the list of skeptics.

A scam is what it is... Sadly there are plenty of people who'll fall for this crap.