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Air France and OnAir are testing inflight voice calls. It's the first inflight mobile phone service to offer the full range of mobile communications services, including voice, SMS and e-mail.

Air France and OnAir have been trialling the first international inflight mobile phone service since Dec. 17, 2007.

During the first three months, passengers were able to send and receive SMS text messages and emails, including attachments.

The Mobile OnAir service uses Inmarsat's SwiftBroadband satellite connectivity to transmit voice and data signals to and from the plane.

Passenger feedback was positive during the testing and now they'll be able to make and receive calls.

The findings from the trial will enable Air France to decide which service customers prefer: data only or data and voice.

Passengers can now use their mobile phones and GPRS devices to make and receive calls in exactly the same way as they do on the ground.

To use the service, passengers simply need to have a roaming agreement, as when travelling abroad, and the cost for using this service are invoiced by their operator in the usual way.

The Air France/OnAir service is activated above 3,000 metres and allows up to six simultaneous calls, as well as unlimited SMS and emails, and is the only service to allow the downloading of email attachments.

(Travel Press)