Foreign Airlines Ahead of U.S. on Cellphone Use [Telecom]

Good idea. On trains the cellphones are a nuisance. People talk loudly, sharing their most private personal or business affairs to unwilling listeners nearby.

On airplane, which has much denser seating and lower ceilings than a commuter train, the situation would be even worse.

If an argument breaks out among passengers on a commuter train the next station isn't too far away where help can be obtained. But on an airplane that isn't the case, plus it could be a major safety hazard.

When mobile phones on trains first came out in 1948, an enclosed booth with seat and table was provided for the privacy of the caller and courtesy to other passengers, this practice continued up to the Metroliner trains in 1969. Newer trains that had mobile phones didn't have a full booth, but the phone was at the end of the car somewhat away from other passengers.

Unfortunately, airplanes are so squeezed for space they simply can't afford to waste a few seats to put in a phone booth or even a nook. Further, while train passengers can get up and move around at any time during their trip, airplane passengers need to stay seated as much as possible, and can not get up during takeoffs, landings, and turbulent weather.

As an aside, Western Union hoped to be a player in airplane phone service with "airfone" and other business partners. WU eventually sold its interest in this effort. (WU also sought to be a conventional cell phone provider, another effort that did not work out.)

You might think so, but planes are so noisy that it turns out that you can barely hear somone talking on the phone in the next seat. I read an article about experience on planes in Europe and Asia, and that was my experience the one or two times I tried to use Airfone.

I'm not a big fan of phones on planes, since it's one of the few places where one is not on an electronic leash, but the noise argument is bogus.

R's, John