du to launch inflight internet and cellphone services soon

Dubai: du customers will soon be able to use their mobiles and PDAs to make calls, send messages and surf the internet, while flying on a number of airlines.

The telecom operator is now in the testing phase with OnAir, the Swiss provider of mobile services on airline. It completed the soft launch of their in-flight services on Emirates airline through the UK-based provider AeroMobile, earlier this year.

The service will be processed at regular international roaming charges on mobile which are roaming service enabled and the services will be launched as soon as the testing phase is successfully completed.

Choices

"This service is to provide more choices for our customers and is not necessarily for making money," Andrew Grenville, du executive vice-president, international and wholesale, told Gulf News.

OnAir has agreements in place with Air France, bmi, TAP, Royal Jordanian, Kingfisher Airlines, Shenzhen Airlines, Air Asia and Air Asia X, while AeroMobile will provide their services through Emirates.

"We are trying to cover as many locations as we can by working with the two in-flight mobile services providers," he said. "The partners will enter into agreements with airlines to maximise in-flight services," he added.

The system is designed in such a way that mobile phone signals no longer have any negative impact on the aircraft's systems.

The airlines will decide on where and how customers will be able to use the services.