A company called AirCell has patented a new technology which they claim makes it possible to safely use their own cellphones while in flight. It works by directing the signals of all the phones being used to a special box on the plane, which then relays calls to one of AirCell’s 134 cellular towers on the ground, so that calls don’t tie up multiple towers as the plane travels across the country. The proximity of the box also enables the phones to use less power, preventing interference with the plane’s navigation and communications systems. AirCell won’t be free, the company expects airlines would charge about a $1 a minute extra for the service, and though it doesn’t get mentioned anywhere in the article, we’re guessing it only works with GSM phones.
