TriaGnoSys has partnered with Israeli Skuku to provide technology that supports inflight GSM voice and SMS fmessaging without the need to install onboard GSM equipment.

The solution uses existing in-seat screens, seat-back phones, and existing Internet connectivity.

To use the service, passengers insert their own SIM card into an airline provided USB adaptor that contains a SIM card reader.

Passengers can send and receive SMS messages using the IFE screen and make and receive voice-calls using “soft phones” (a VoIP application downloaded either onto the passenger’s notebook computer or onto the IFE system) or Skype phones. Skuku technology uses SIM card data in ground GSM servers to provide roaming for voice and SMS.