Qantas to trial in-flight SMS

Australia-based airline Qantas has been given the green light to start testing in-flight mobile phone services, but voice services will be disabled. The Australian Communications and Media Authority gave the thumbs-up late on Wednesday to a limited evaluation of GSM mobile phones and GPRS devices, but only for one commercial aircraft.

According to a Qantas spokesperson, the three-month trial will involve a Boeing 767 plying between domestic capital cities.

Qantas has decided to limit the pilot to email and text, and disable voice services. The spokesperson said once the email and SMS evaluation ends, Qantas will decide if voice calls should be tested.

Qantas said passengers wanting to send or receive an SMS will need international roaming activated, and a GSM mobile phone. To send or receive email messages, a GPRS-enabled device would do. Telstra, Panasonic Avionics and AeroMobile will be part of the exercise.