Kent German of CNET have blogged from 25,000 feet before, but right here, you’ll be able to use cellphone & Blackberry from the same height!!

MAS had just released in-flight cellphone and blackberry services on selected route to oversees. Not too exciting for me personally, since I’m expecting it’d be something like this. No internet, but only cellphone service (call and texting SMS) as well as Blackberry service are available.

To achieve this, MAS’s boeing 777 plane is equipped with Aeromobile’s Inmarsat’s Swift64 satellite system, which is capable of offering GPRS and Blackberry services. As a starter, this is only available on selected routes to Europe, Australia, and across Asia including China and Japan.

MAS is the first airline in Asia to have such service on-board. Glad to know it, but I do wish the system is not digging deep into MAS’s pocket which could effect its earning. Ironically though, AeroMobile is a joint venture project between ARINC and Telenor, which, as we all know is DIGI’s parent company.

The certification from Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) should clear your doubt about safety level of this tool.

But who really need to make a phone call or connect to internet during a flight?? If you’re ultra buzy or super geek, I bet you’ll need that, just like you’re in need of food.

Billing does not come with a small dime though. You’ll be charged with roaming rate according to your service provider. Do your own math before doing a phone call, and see if it’s worthy.

While the internet service is not available on MAS plane, CNET post above stated that the charges is based on the distance.

Not forgetting to mention that, the Virgin Americas plane have the Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi service to provide WIFI, but no cellphone service is being offered on the plane due to some regulations.

I still prefer internet than cellphone service. You can still communicate via internet with messenger and Skype. And internet offers more than just communication!!

via 1,2,3