Airfone, a division of Verizon, will cease offering in-flight phone service by the end of 2006, according to company spokespersons.  The parent company has decided to focus its resources on extending its fiber-optic cable network, through which it will offer high-speed Internet, VoIP phone and cable TV.

The air-to-ground phone service is over twenty years old, and despite cel phones, remains installed in over 1,000 planes operated by four major airlines. It's not cheap - service is as much as .69 cents a minute for Verizon Wireless customers, and as much as $5.99 a minute for non-customers. Nevertheless, the service has remained popular.

AirCell has won a license to use the 800MHz spectrum now being used by Airfone. Their intention is to offer "affordable" wireless broadband Internet access aboard commercial flights.