Wireless Company Reroutes Calls To In-Flight Phones

Mobile phones are great -- as long as they're turned on. The problem, of course, is that you can't use them on board commercial aircraft while they're in the air. But now, Verizon has come up with an idea to keep those calls coming.

Verizon and Airfone have teamed up to offer Verizon subscribers a chance to log into the Airfone nearest them by entering their cell phone number, PIN, and seat location. Incoming cell calls are then transferred to the closest Airfone.

Perhaps the best part of the plan is the rates -- which are much lower than those charged to retail Airfone customers. Right now, they pay a $4.00 connect fee and $4.00 a minute. Verizon customers can send and receive calls for 69-cents a minute. But they have to pay a $10.00/month fee for the privilege.

The discounts don't apply to data calls. But even here, there's an alternative. Users can hook up to JetConnect data service for another $10.00/month. JetConnect frequently logs into an onboard data server, given customers semi-real time access to the Internet, instant messaging and, for an extra fee, email.

FMI: http://news.vzw.com/lead_story/pr2004-03-02.html