When it comes to the question of allowing cellphone calls on flights, respondents to a survey just say no.
Thanks to a survey by premier information technology researcher IDC, users were able to state their preference for BlackBerries over Oranges. IDC’s survey comes in response to reports that the Federal Communications Commission is considering lifting the longtime in-flight cellphone ban.
IDC found that only 11 percent of 50,000 survey respondents favored lifting the ban. But 64 percent approved of the use of mobile phones for purposes besides voice calls. Many modern phones, like PalmOne’s popular Treo smartphones, can perform multiple tasks like composing and receiving e-mail.
Manufacturers like PalmOne would love to see the in-flight ban lifted. Rescinding the ban would give those makers of advanced devices a new angle for their marketing efforts. And, software providers like third-party application leader Handango and Windows Mobile developer Microsoft would likewise benefit from this too.
IDC’s research showed the most popular of eleven activities that could be used during flight was text messaging. Considering the popularity of push e-mail that has driven Research in Motion’s sales of hardware and software, that result doesn’t look too surprising in context.
The survey further found that the more interactive the particular service, the more likely a respondent favored it as an in-flight option. According to IDC, it demonstrates that interactivity is a foundational element for successful mobile phone applications among the surveyed segment.
David Utter is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business. Email him here.
