Design & Innovation

According to the article posted below European Regulators have lifted the ban restricting cell phone use during flights, although this kind of service will depend on the airlines and if they choose to offer this. 

The ban though still remains in the U.S. so american airliners are not affected. The satellite based technology is operated by the Captain and can be turned on after about 10,000 feet (it can also be turned off at any time).

Air France is officially the 1st international airline to offer this mobile service as part of a six-month test to gauge customer response. Most european airliners are in the stage of researching the pro’s and con’s of adding such a service. Although Lufthansa is in a stage of bringing back in-flight internet service and Virgin Atlantic is interested in offering data-only service.

A flight is one of the few places where you can get away from cell phones. People prefer quiet flights. I for one would not want to be bothered by 200 different ringing phones on a 6hour flight.

 I don’t think it is a very good idea although i do support in-flight internet service.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2008-04-08-cellphones-airlines-europe_N.htm

Amazon now lets you have the ability to look up items using text messaging. I think this is an interesting idea, but I’m sure that cellphone networks are going to have to upgrade their 3G networks to allow cellphones search faster on the internet. Security is being addressed I’m sure. This is kind of a spin off of mobile banking from such banks like Bank of America. I wonder if Google is going to take Google Check out mobile as well.

This is an easier way for people to do podcasting on the go. There is a number that you can call that allows you to record your voice through your cellphone and then it will save in a folder online. Then you can do whatever you want with that audio file. I think that this is a genius idea. Not everyone has a microphone, and I actually see this changing how Universities do lectures. I know that I personally have to had to record my voice in my Portuguese class, but needed a microphone which isn’t a huge hassle to buy, but making sure it’s compatible with your computer can be iffy. I think the diagram above explains the concept really well. I’m also thinking that this could be used in my innovation idea room for Second Life…