Vinaphone has become first mobile service provider to provide mobile service on a number of international flights.
To make phone calls or send messages during the fight, subscribers (not including pre-paid ones) only have to open the international roaming function on their mobile phones.
The cost of sending a text message is 0.82 USD and incoming texts are free. Outgoing calls (including from Vietnam) will be charged 4.3 USD a minute and the rate for incoming calls is 99,000 VND (4.75 USD) per minute.
Customers need to register for Vinaphone’s international roaming service before they can make calls or send messages while on board a plane. Pilot crews will announce availability of services. However, passengers are still required to turn off their mobile phones during take-off and landing.
Vinaphone said it is negotiating with other airlines to offer these services on more flights and it also plans to provide in-flight internet services in the near future.
These services will be available on international flights operated by Emirates, Malaysia Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Etihad Airways, Libyan Arab Airlines, Egypt Air, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and TAM (from Brazil).
Mr Nguyen Son Hai, a Vinaphone representative stressed: “Keeping in touch with relatives and business partners via long distance flights is very important for customers. These first ever services provided by Vinaphone have demonstrated our desire and relentless efforts to meet their higher demands”.