Connexion by Boeing recently concluded a week of demonstration flights in Europe that showed travelers how mobile telephony in flight can be provided safely and conveniently for passengers in flight. During flights aboard a Boeing 737-400 test and demonstration airplane, Connexion One, guests sampled not only the Connexion by Boeing high-speed, real-time Internet service, which now includes four channels of live TV, but also used roaming-enabled mobile phones to make and receive phone calls.

"Enabling people to make and receive phone calls during flight demonstrated the flexibility of a high-speed connectivity system like ours," said Chris Petersen, program manager for voice and cellular service at Connexion by Boeing. "We allowed our guests to make calls to the ground while we flew over international waters, and almost everyone's first call was to their boss. Both callers and call recipients were equally excited and impressed by the voice quality and the reliability of the connection."

The ability to make Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) and code-division multiple-access (CDMA) calls over Connexion by Boeing's system was made possible through Alameda, Calif.-based UTStarcom, Inc., a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services. UTStarcom supplied its MovingMedia 2000 all-IP mobile network infrastructure equipment to Connexion by Boeing and also provided technical support on the ground for call switching and completion.

Connexion by Boeing intends to enable mobile phone devices onboard commercial airplanes utilizing the existing broadband satellite link and make this available to its airline customers as early as 2006.