An Internet application called VOIP (voice over IP) allows a computer user to use their computer and Internet access to make telephone calls using Skype, Google Voice and similar applications.
Commercial aircraft carriers in the USA are beginning to deploy WIFI so that computer users will have Internet access while flying. This means it may be possible to make VOIP telephone connections aboard flying commercial aircraft.
Irrespective of the current ban on using cell phones aboard flying commercial aircraft, do you support the use of VOIP aboard flying commercial aircraft?
How will this be any different from those phones that they have attached to the seat backs? I figure if they didn’t want people talking on the phone while flying, those phones wouldn’t be there. And as I understand it, the original ban was from the FCC that the FAA honored. I don’t see a technical reason to oppose them.
Socially though it’s another issue. Calling someone to say “yeah, we’re about 2 hours out, see you at the airport,” is no big deal. Much more than that, and you are probably going to annoy me.
Like what I said in the thread about cell phones and airplanes, but this will be worse.
I’m calling from the airplane! On my laptop!
Yes! I’m using my laptop on the airplane to call you!
I don’t know how it works!
We’re somewhere over Ohio!
I’m predicting the number of arguments and assaults on a plane will go up if they allow phone use (without a corresponding penalty like paying out the ass for the cost, like those seatback phones). And I’m probably going to start it off on any given plane flight I’m on.
I’m calling from the airplane! On my laptop! On my LAPTOP! Hello, hello, are still there?
Yes! I’m using my laptop on the airplane to call you! Oh Emm Gee, can you believe this?
I don’t know how it works! All I know is that I thought I would die in the terminal with no service.
We’re somewhere over Ohio!
** O H I O ,
Is that Dad in the background? I can hear his hearing aid whistling.
Hold the phone up so I can yell to him.
Dad… DAD…DAD** Do you mind? I’m TRYING to talk to my ailing father.
In other news, the NTSB is still trying to figure out how the passengers opened the door of the plane at 35,000 feet.
If planes were quiet enough and VOIP reliable enough that people could have a normal volume conversation, I’d have no problem with it. Hell, I’d either be talking to someone myself, listening to music, or watching a movie on my headphones, so I wouldn’t notice.
As it is, you’ll get dozens of people yelling into their computers/phones. Can you hear me now? No, but all the rest of us can, asshole.
I voted yes, because I support the technology and the ability to use it.
What I was NOT voting for was allowing annoying behaviour on planes. I am all for mobile phones on streets, but I also find a lot of the people that use them in the street be inconsiderate and brain-dead.
ETA: I thought I was voting for internet access. If it is specifically VOIP then I’m not so sure. If people are going to be annoying while using it then chances are they are going to find some other way of being annoying while not using it.
But the idea of being able to use the internet at high speed while stuck on a flight is appealing to me. (not that I fly much. I wish I could get fast internet on the ferry)