As the FT reports today, Ryanair has announced that they will offer mobile phone calls onboard their flights. Other carriers are also testing such systems now. This news comes just a few weeks after Boeing closed down its loss-making Connexion group that offered onboard Internet access.

Unlike Connexion's system, or pure onboard telephones, which have also been unsuccessful, the idea here is that people can use their own mobile phones to make calls and will be charged "normal international roaming fees", according to OnAir Ryanair's partner. OnAir is a Geneva, Switzerland, based company and a joint venture between SITA and Airbus.

Maybe this is now finally a successful model. If it is, then e.g. Connexion might have just had the wrong positioning of their services and forgot about mobile phone users. Of course this new business model still has to be proven. We will know more in 1-2 years, I guess.