From Slashdot (Cell Phones to be Allowed on UK Planes):Matty the Monkey writes:

"The British regulator in charge of air travel has approved cellphones for use on airline flights, reports the BBC. Airlines will be allowed to activate base stations in the plane's tail after takeoff, creating a zone of mobile coverage around the plane. 'The services could stop working once aircraft leave European airspace. Initially, only second generation networks will be offered but growing interest would mean that third generation, or 3G, services would follow later, said Ofcom. The cost of making a mobile phone call from a plane will be higher than making one from the ground.'"

I think this is a recipe for disaster, possibly homicide after shattered phones and fist fights. We can't let our pilots talk on the phone and drive an airplane ("About to crash, gotta go!"). Like others have echoed in Slashdot's comments, listening to other people's phone conversations is a serious invasion of personal space.

Please don't allow voice, US and Asian airliners! It will only add to the crying baby noises that I always hear on long-haul flights. Let's not forget that people will begin to shout after trying to talk over other people. I'm OK with data services, but please make voice ridiculously expensive.

I think it might be time to pickup a pair of noise canceling earphones!

I already have a set of noise canceling headphones and I categorically oppose allowing cell phones on flights of any kind, any where! It's horrid enough with people making insipid non-conversation with people they don't know.

Text messaging wouldn't be so bad if phones using an airplane base station would force your phone into silent or vibrate mode. Unfortunately, text message alerts are designed to be Pavlovian, thereby affecting the receiver and everyone within 40 feet of the receiver.

Data/WiFi: OK, I guess.
Voice: NO!

I rather like the announcement I hear in Tokyo buses: "Passengers are reminded that portable telephones should not be used on the bus as they annoy the neighbors!"

Great.... another place where I can't read a book 'cause the twat two rows down is bent on yelling to her husband on the phone.