http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/21/emirates-permits-worlds-first-in-flight-cellphone-call-plane-d/

I would venture to guess that if Emirates airlines allows a call during a flight to Europe the prop. should be met. Does anyone else view it the same way?

No. In the article you provided, the flight was between Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and Casablanca, Morocco. Neither of these countries are in the European Union, and the airline is based out of Dubai.

In my opinion, if the airline had been based in some country of the EU, even this flight would qualify for a payout.

Either way this is a reason to buy.

I didn't say that the flight mentioned in the article was a payout. You said "no" but then you agreed with my post. I said that if Emirates allowed such service on a flight to a European destination then the prop. should be considered met.

Well, no, because Emirates isn't based in the EU. What I meant was, even though it wasn't in the EU, if an airline on that route based in the EU (British Airways, or whatever) allowed the calls then the proposition would be met.

At least, that's my interpretation of the proposition.

I don't think that this flight alone would qualify for the payout regardless. Here's the prop language.

This proposition will pay out at POP$100 if at least one airline in the E.U. allows the consistent (that is, not in a one-time emergency situation) use of cellphones aboard at least one of its planes by November 1, 2008.

I think that the key word here is "consistent." This one flight is a test and an example of what they could be planning on rolling out, but it's obviously not a service that is offered by any airline at this point.

Looks like this just got one step closer!

Those who enjoy the quiet sanctity of flying because of the mobile phone ban on planes, may soon have their peace shattered.

The communications regulator Ofcom said plans are now in place to allow passengers on UK-registered aircraft to use their own mobiles while in flight over Europe.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=545795&in_page_id=1770

Looks like this may happen after all.

Another one with better/clearer information:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7314362.stm

clearing government hurdles 8 months before the prop deadline... this is serious news.

I'd say this just turned into a very strong long.

ejcassel

Check this out!

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Air-France-tests-Europe-s-first-in-flight-mobile-service/291707/

Air France-KLM Group, Europe’s largest airline, has begun allowing passengers to make phone calls on one plane in the continent’s first trial of airborne mobile-phone voice service. Air France is adding phone service on an Airbus SAS A318 that started testing text messaging and e-mail in December as part of a six-month study.

Honestly, this looks sufficient (if verified of course) to satisfy the proposition!

Getting closer and closer, even though I think the prior announcement should have satisfied this.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/06/business/mobile.php

The European Commission plans to announce rules to let airlines offer midair mobile phone calls to passengers across the European Union, removing a major obstacle for companies that want to sell the service.

With the new regulations, to be released Monday, the commission would unify cellular licensing requirements and technical standards to cover mobile phones as they cross multiple boundaries in the air.

Headline on Yahoo! this morning:

Cell Phones Ceared For Flight

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/88606

ejcassel