Verizon Customers: Forward Calls to Your Plane

[Robert Levy]

http://news.vzw.com/lead_story/pr2004-03-02.html

"Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless service provider and operator of the most reliable wireless network, today announced it is teaming up with Verizon Airfone to offer discounted in-flight calls for Verizon Wireless customers. Beginning today, Verizon Wireless frequent flyers can stay connected while in flight for just 10 cents-a-minute when they sign up for the new Airfone Service for Verizon Wireless $10 monthly subscription plan.

Verizon Wireless customers who want to make and receive calls while in flight need only register as a user on a Verizon Airfone handset to make and receive calls for 10 cents-a-minute with a monthly subscription or 69 cents-a-minute with no subscription. Callers dialing the customer’s Verizon Wireless phone number will reach them on board any of the more than 2,000 planes served by Verizon Airfone nationwide. Charges will be billed directly to the customer’s Verizon Wireless bill."

Not exactly cheap, but for the people who really need it this sounds like a great service. It doesn't check with airline databases to automaticall figure out where you are though... you have to go through a brief setup process everytime you board a plane. There are probably some legal and privacy concerns around cross-referencing databases and doing this automatically, but I think that giving customers that option would be very very cool.

[Robert Levy]

http://news.vzw.com/lead_story/pr2004-03-02.html

"Verizon Wireless, the nation’s largest wireless service provider and operator of the most reliable wireless network, today announced it is teaming up with Verizon Airfone to offer discounted in-flight calls for Verizon Wireless customers. Beginning today, Verizon Wireless frequent flyers can stay connected while in flight for just 10 cents-a-minute when they sign up for the new Airfone Service for Verizon Wireless $10 monthly subscription plan.

Verizon Wireless customers who want to make and receive calls while in flight need only register as a user on a Verizon Airfone handset to make and receive calls for 10 cents-a-minute with a monthly subscription or 69 cents-a-minute with no subscription. Callers dialing the customer’s Verizon Wireless phone number will reach them on board any of the more than 2,000 planes served by Verizon Airfone nationwide. Charges will be billed directly to the customer’s Verizon Wireless bill."

Not exactly cheap, but for the people who really need it this sounds like a great service. It doesn't check with airline databases to automaticall figure out where you are though... you have to go through a brief setup process everytime you board a plane. There are probably some legal and privacy concerns around cross-referencing databases and doing this automatically, but I think that giving customers that option would be very very cool.