Ron Chapman CEO of ASiQ Limited announced today that SafeCell will change the rules for in-flight messaging.
"We have now tested our App on every available aircraft satellite network and recently received the latest Inmarsat swift broadband aircraft system.
"We activated the SafeCell App on multiple mobile phones and were simultaneously sending SMS, MMS and Voice messages in both directions. As such, we are now confident we could accommodate the messaging requirements of 400+ passengers on a jumbo.
"Not only that, unlike existing systems, SafeCell does not incur GSM roaming charges and we see no reason why messaging in an aircraft, should be more expensive than on the ground and its time someone did something about it.
"As such, for the first time in aviation communications history, the price of SafeCell in-flight messaging can actually be cheaper than on the ground. We are talking of providing an SMS service that could be as low as 5 cents per message and MMS for under 25 cents, plus Instant Messaging for free.
"We know from our competitor’s flight test on QANTAS and Air France that hundreds of messages are being sent on flights, despite their high roaming charges. We believe that SafeCell’s lower cost will make it affordable for all passengers, not just the business traveller.
"The SafeCell App achieves this, as it makes the Bluetooth connection on the mobile the primary link and connects to a Bluetooth hotspot in the aircraft. SafeCell delivers its service via low cost satellites through the Internet, avoiding the GSM roaming charges.
"The App makes a Bluetooth dumb phone smart and a smartphone even smarter and as Bluetooth is up to 3 Mbps, speed is not an issue.
"We now see SafeCell as a real option for all airlines."
Later this month ASiQ will release the worlds first certifiable Bluetooth Hotspot.
