All 2 entries tagged Ofcom

Mobile Phones on a Plane

Writing about web page http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7330850.stm

Apparently, early last week, Ofcom okayed the use of mobile phones on airliners at any height above 3km. This has confused me and leads me to the following points:

• What happened to the belief that electronic devices emit harmful pilot killer rays? I always doubted there would be any issues (given the high amount of shielding on the cables), but Health & Safety are usually much harder to convince...
• If mobile phones are capable of transmitting signals between 1.8 miles (3km) and 6.6 miles (cruising altitude of 747, apparently) why do I always have so few bars for the signal strength?
• Isn't the real reason for the ban on mobile phones supposed to be that it encourages people to use the airline's ridiculously expensive built-in phones? Surely, therefore, mobiles are still going to be prohibited...
• Also, why only above 3000m? Why is it dangerous (presumably) below 3km, but perfectly safe above?

: 05 Apr 2008 17:19 |  Tags: Confused Mobile Phone News Ofcom Plane Randomness |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Vital reports to prove the blindingly obvious

Writing about web page http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6959049.stm

According to a report by Ofcom, people are starting to use mobile phones more than landlines.

This was, of course, of vital importance and impossible to figure out without in-depth statistical analysis...

I also heard that their next reports are going to be looking into what colour the sky is, investigating the price of fish, seeing whether or not computers do what they're supposed to 100% of the time, testing whether time heals all wounds, and calculating exactly how much a stitch in time actually saves.

: 23 Aug 2007 00:52 |  Tags: Bizarre Landline Mobile Phone Ofcom Randomness |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem