FCC says yes to in-flight WiFi, no to mobile phones

You win some, you lose some, right? Mobile warriors will likely find themselves disheartened at the news that the FCC has grounded plans for in-flight cell phones, at least for the time being. However, there is a bit of good news on the horizon: WiFi-enabler AirCell will start offering in-flight WiFi on U.S. flights starting next year. It seems like this has been a long time coming (some of you will recall Boeing's abandoned Connexion project) but it's nice to see the major airlines finally catching up with cafés, McDonald's and your local public library. While they'll charge a nominal fee (something like $10 per flight), that's a small price to pay for the true mobile warrior who must always stay connected (especially considering that it's probably the expense account that will pay out anyway). If you ask me, this is a big win for everyone: business travelers get to stay connected and the guy in the seat next to you doesn't have to put up with you yammering on your BlackBerry throughout the entire flight. Though if you were smart, you would simply grab a Bluetooth headset and get a little VoIP going on that laptop. That is, unless you happen to be sitting next to me.

For more on in-flight connectivity:
- see this Wall Street Journal article (sub. req.)

For more on the FCC's ruling on mobile phones:
- see this InfoWorld article