Pending regulatory approval by the necessary government agencies, budget-airline Ryanair announced plans to outfit its fleet of Boeing 737s with a system that allows passengers to use mobiles while in the air, starting next year. Through a deal with OnAir, the Irish airline will charge customers with fees similar to international roaming costs to call, text, or e-mail in-flight.

CEO Michael O'Leary, unfazed by the demise of Connexion, is naturally optimistic about this venture, expecting profitability within two years. And he isn't concerned about passengers screaming "I'm here, can you hear me?!?!," asserting that people would rather text anyway.

Honestly Though: From personal experience, lots of people still have no sense of cell phone etiquette. So I hope ryanair's venture won't cause flight stewards more reasons to stew in their own juice.