Replying to [Aussie]:  I for one have been on enough long flights to say that ringers should be banned for all flights.  There is no reason whatsoever why they cant be put on vibrate.  Also I think for the sake of others.  That those that want to communicate for any purpose should be restricted to a place of any flight that is out of the ear shot of others, much the same way first class is segragated.  For myself though while flying I wear noise cancelling head phones especially if I have work to be done on my laptop.  Theres nothing worse then listening to someone who cant talk on a cell phone without being so rudely loud. 

Ranger

Quoting from [Aussie]:

Article from our local mobile association:

 

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Hi

I understand in June from Heathrow-to-Moscow route, BMI would test a new Tech where upto 12 people on anyone flight can make a call while in the sky, this is by sending the signal to the satellite first and not to the earth.

Planes would be fiited with a small arial, and the calls would be charged at the international rate for roaming, so people could end up with very large bills.

Ranger, you said you have used a mobile while inflight? which airline would allow this, thought only some while taxiing, but most while the plane is moving all phones to be turned off.

But many phones now have the inflight mode, where you can use your phone but only the signal is offline, i think like Ranger said, must have a part of the plane where you can use your mobile and where other do the same, and not casue problems to people that just want to rest and get away on holiday and put the mobile away for those 2 weeks, but not to get on the flight and again listen to the business people chatting away for hours.

Before the new smokong law in UK some places would have smoking areas or zones, so all these people can be together, anyway some mobile phone ring tones are sad , soon the skys would never be the same.

Quoting from [Aussie]:

Article from our local mobile association:

 

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Crackdown on mobile phones on public transit ignites debate

The world has never been more connected, but in some corners, it's developing a real hang-up over the ubiquitous cell phone, reports the Age newspaper.

 

Taking a cue from France's national railway, which offers phone-free "zen zones" on high-speed trains, Austria's second-largest city this week began ordering public transit commuters to keep their phones on silent mode.

 

The crackdown in the southern city of Graz has triggered a noisy debate between advocates of free speech and people who say they're simply fed up with having to listen to annoying ring tones and intrusive cell phone chatter.

 

"I know I insulted the cell phone goddess a little," Graz Mayor Siegfried Nagl said.

 

"But people need to know they don't have the right to be on the telephone permanently and constantly," he told Austrian television. "It's just not healthy to never be able to get any peace and quiet."

 

Graz's response to the proliferation of cell phones reflects a growing backlash against their abuse around the world, where mobiles and other portable communication devices outnumber people by a margin of 2-to-1 in many countries:

 

_ This week, U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio filed pre-emptive legislation aimed at ensuring Americans won't be subjected to cell phone chitchat on airliners. DeFazio, D-Ore., introduced his bill after the European Union scrapped a longtime ban on the use of cell phones on flights and Air France-KLM launched trial on-board cellular service.

 

_ Last month, police in New Jersey started slapping drivers with a $100 fine for talking on a hand-held device or sending a text message. Across the U.S. this year, at least 21 state legislatures are considering some kind of ban on texting while driving.

 

_ France's SNCF rail company, determined to spare travelers cell phone cacophony, now operates "zen zones" in select compartments aboard intercity TGV bullet trains. The railway asks passengers seated in those areas to turn off their phones so everyone can "travel in a totally relaxing environment."

 

Denmark, Germany and Finland - home to mobile phone giant Nokia Corp - offer similar "quiet compartment" sanctuaries on trains.

 

And aviation experts say the risk of in-flight cell phone use interfering with jetliner navigational equipment is minimized because the new systems won't connect in-flight phones directly to the ground. Instead, they'll use an onbo

Where I live public transport is minimal, but in some other public areas I believe that vibrate should be a manditory setting. As I do not care to hear your new 50cent or American Idol ringtone that you have set to "can hear on the moon". Or for others I'm sure a Kiley ringtone might be just as bad.