iPhone 2.0 Offers 'Wi-Fi Only' Option for Flights

MacRumors · 11:29 PM

One new feature shown in the iPhone 2.0 guided tour is the ability to independently turn on Wi-fi after you've switched your iPhone into "Airplane mode". Normally, with Airplane mode, the iPhone turns off both its cellular and Wi-fi transmissions to prevent any inteference with the plane's navigation system.

The need for Wi-fi on a plane is a rather new feature with a company called Gogo starting to offer Wi-fi internet access on domestic flights beginning this summer.

Gogo will be launching on three American Airline routes in July, with plans to expand to several other major U.S. airlines next year. The cost for the service is $12.95 for flights of three hours or longer and $9.95 for shorter trips.

Article Link

sjjordan · 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

One new feature shown in the iPhone 2.0 guided tour is the ability to independently turn on Wi-fi after you've switched your iPhone into "Airplane mode". Normally, with Airplane mode, the iPhone turns off both its cellular and Wi-fi transmissions to prevent any inteference with the plane's navigation system.

The need for Wi-fi on a plan is a rather new feature with a company called Gogo starting to offer Wi-fi internet access on domestic flights beginning this summer.

Gogo will be launching on three American Airline routes in July, with plans to expand to several other major U.S. airlines next year. The cost for the service is $12.95 for flights of three hours or longer and $9.95 for shorter trips.

Article Link

Fantastic! When I'm overseas, I turn off data roaming, but to use wifi, I have to have airplane mode turned off. This makes my iphone connect to the local cell network and all incoming calls are $3.99/minute! Even if I don't answer them, I get charged! Been waiting for this.

j_maddison · Jul 2, 2008, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjjordan

Fantastic! When I'm overseas, I turn off data roaming, but to use wifi, I have to have airplane mode turned off. This makes my iphone connect to the local cell network and all incoming calls are $3.99/minute! Even if I don't answer them, I get charged! Been waiting for this.

That sounds quite bad, not sure if this will help or not. UK operators only charge for connected calls, whether that's to a voice mail box or to the user when he/she picks up the call. If you disable the voice mail box when you're abroad, you'll only get charged for the calls you physically answer.

This is how it works with UK operators, not sure if US carriers follow the same model

Jay

sjjordan · Jul 2, 2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j_maddison

That sounds quite bad, not sure if this will help or not. UK operators only charge for connected calls, whether that's to a voice mail box or to the user when he/she picks up the call. If you disable the voice mail box when you're abroad, you'll only get charged for the calls you physically answer.

This is how it works with UK operators, not sure if US carriers follow the same model

Jay

Sadly, it doesn't work this way with ATT. I called about the charges and they credited them back to me, but said I was charged even though I didnt answer. Since the call was coming in, using a foreign network, I was charged.

sccaldwell · Jul 2, 2008, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjjordan

Fantastic! When I'm overseas, I turn off data roaming, but to use wifi, I have to have airplane mode turned off. This makes my iphone connect to the local cell network and all incoming calls are $3.99/minute! Even if I don't answer them, I get charged! Been waiting for this.

Exactly why I want this feature, too. I was in the Mediterranean shortly after I got my iPhone, and even though I had tons of places where I could have used the Wi-Fi access for free, I wasn't willing to turn it on because of the phone charges I would have incurred. Now I'll be ready for the next trip! :-)

Craig

bacaramac · Jul 2, 2008, 03:42 PM

Since your on Wi-Fi, you could use the VOIP app to talk away on the plane for 12.95 over a multiple hour flight (6-12hrs). Cool. Only concern would be bandwidth I guess.

matt18 · Jul 1, 2008, 11:05 PM

very nice...I was wondering when this was going to come into play!

ingenious · Jul 1, 2008, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

The need for Wi-fi on a plan...

Typo...

SirOmega · Jul 1, 2008, 11:29 PM

I was wondering when they would add this feature - wifi on airplanes has been ready to arrive for a while now, and the firmware is just in time.

Chip NoVaMac · Jul 1, 2008, 11:37 PM

Good feature... and even better with some budget airlines looking at "free" wifi..... not sure I would pay for it otherwise..... not at the prices mentioned.... a day of fly east/west could end up costing $60 or more!

bacaramac · Jul 1, 2008, 11:51 PM

I'll take credit for this find (at least I think I was first).

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...light=airplane

EDIT: I also think they need to make Bluetooth work once they decide to finally add A2DP profile for wireless headphones.

otis123 · Jul 10, 2008, 02:40 AM

will the old iphone get this?

Billy Boo Bob · Jul 11, 2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otis123

will the old iphone get this?

Yes. You can go into Airplane Mode, which will initially turn off WiFi, also... Then, go into WiFi Settings and turn it back on... You'll have WiFi along with Airplane mode (for Edge).

MusicTech! · Jul 11, 2008, 04:52 PM

I don't know which forum to find what I'm looking for, but my iPod Touch is having problems udating to the new 2.0 software. I'm trying to update my 1st Generation iPod Touch. I'm stuck at the point where it gives me the "We could not complete your iTunes Store request" error message. I've tried everything from shutting down iTunes, to unplugging my iPod and can't get it to be right. Anyone else have this problem?

Here's a better explanation of what's going on: http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/007248.html
I still don't understand it. Help?

muldul · Jul 20, 2008, 07:09 PM

That is pretty cool, but as i live in the uk, don't think i will need it here for a while

Jul 1, 2008, 10:56 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	iPhone 2.0 Offers 'Wi-Fi Only' Option for Flights One new feature shown in the iPhone 2.0 guided tour is the ability to independently turn on Wi-fi after you've switched your iPhone into "Airplane mode". Normally, with Airplane mode, the iPhone turns off both its cellular and Wi-fi transmissions to prevent any inteference with the plane's navigation system. The need for Wi-fi on a plane is a rather new feature with a company called Gogo starting to offer Wi-fi internet access on domestic flights beginning this summer. Gogo will be launching on three American Airline routes in July, with plans to expand to several other major U.S. airlines next year. The cost for the service is $12.95 for flights of three hours or longer and $9.95 for shorter trips. Article Link Last edited by arn : Jul 1, 2008 at 11:29 PM.

Jul 2, 2008, 03:42 PM	#6
bacaramac macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2007	Since your on Wi-Fi, you could use the VOIP app to talk away on the plane for 12.95 over a multiple hour flight (6-12hrs). Cool. Only concern would be bandwidth I guess. __________________ iMac 27" 3.06Ghz 13" Unibody MBP Dual-Band AEBS ATV 40GB 16GB iPhone 3G S⃣ Black and White Touch x 2

Jul 1, 2008, 11:05 PM	#7
matt18 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Louisville, KY	very nice...I was wondering when this was going to come into play! __________________ MacBook \| 2.4GHz White 8GB iPod Touch \| 8GB iPhone 3G

Jul 1, 2008, 11:37 PM	#10
Chip NoVaMac macrumors 601 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Northern Virginia	Good feature... and even better with some budget airlines looking at "free" wifi..... not sure I would pay for it otherwise..... not at the prices mentioned.... a day of fly east/west could end up costing $60 or more! __________________ It is fast approaching the point where I don't want to elect anyone stupid enough to want the job. - Bombeck http://homepage.mac.com/jlenkiewicz/

Jul 1, 2008, 11:51 PM	#11
bacaramac macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2007	I'll take credit for this find (at least I think I was first). http://forums.macrumors.com/showthre...light=airplane EDIT: I also think they need to make Bluetooth work once they decide to finally add A2DP profile for wireless headphones. __________________ iMac 27" 3.06Ghz 13" Unibody MBP Dual-Band AEBS ATV 40GB 16GB iPhone 3G S⃣ Black and White Touch x 2

Jul 1, 2008, 11:29 PM	#9
SirOmega macrumors 6502a Join Date: Apr 2006	I was wondering when they would add this feature - wifi on airplanes has been ready to arrive for a while now, and the firmware is just in time.

Jul 10, 2008, 02:40 AM	#12
otis123 macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2006	will the old iphone get this? __________________ 15" unibody 2.4Ghz MacBook Pro, iPhone 3G 16gb black, AL 20" 2.0Ghz C2D imac all macs running 10.6

Jul 11, 2008, 04:52 PM	#14
MusicTech! macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2008	iPod Touch/iPhone Software Update 2.0 Errors I don't know which forum to find what I'm looking for, but my iPod Touch is having problems udating to the new 2.0 software. I'm trying to update my 1st Generation iPod Touch. I'm stuck at the point where it gives me the "We could not complete your iTunes Store request" error message. I've tried everything from shutting down iTunes, to unplugging my iPod and can't get it to be right. Anyone else have this problem? Here's a better explanation of what's going on: http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/007248.html I still don't understand it. Help?

Jul 20, 2008, 07:09 PM	#15
muldul macrumors 6502 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: West Sussex, England, UK	That is pretty cool, but as i live in the uk, don't think i will need it here for a while __________________ Black Macbook 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HD Ipod touch 16GB app update v.2.0 Ipod shuffle 4GB (3rd Gen) Ipod Nano 8GB (2nd Gen)

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