Qantas to launch SMS and email inflight services

“Initiate mile-high club invites via SMS?”

By year end, Qantas will be rolling out technology to allow customers to send and receive SMS and emails during selected domestic services.

They conducted trials with 11,000 customers to evaluate the technology, for use on their mobile phones and/or personal electronic devices. A GSM handset and global roaming account* will be needed to send or receive an SMS, while those wanting to send and receive emails will need a GPRS enabled device, like a Blackberry or an appropriately equipped laptop.

The evaluation of this new technology was a great success. An overwhelming majority of passengers involved in the evaluation indicated they wanted access to inflight connectivity on an ongoing basis, John Borghetti, Qantas Executive General Manager, said.

“Of course we want it – but at what price?”

Based on the quote to AMTA by Qantas GM Products and Services

we are committed to providing these products and services to the business market

The mention of “business market” might mean it will remain otherwise unaffordable. But it might just depend on our individual plans.

Guess it will be a game of ‘wait and see’ when the systems are in place, as to charges by our service providers based on global roaming rates*.

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Related:

• Qantas news release
• AMTA update
• iTWire article

Updated:
08/04/08: In-flight mobile calls approved for Europe