Qualcomm Inc. successfully tested an in-cabin voice communications system using CDMA mobile phones, the company announced Thursday.
Passengers, including reporters and government representatives, were able to place and receive phone calls and text messages during the proof-of-concept demonstration on board a two-hour American Airlines flight out of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. The system uses an in-cabin third-generation “picocell” network and an air-to-ground Globalstar satellite link to provide CDMA service.
“Together, we have anticipated the future needs of wireless subscribers in the airline industry and are aggressively driving the delivery of innovative solutions to meet those needs,” said Dr. Irwin Jacobs, Qualcomm chairman and chief executive officer.
An American Airlines executive said commercial availability of in-flight cell-phone use is about two years away.
