Airplane Mode

Airplane mode is a setting available on many cell phones, smartphones and other electronic devices that, when activated, suspends many of the device's signal transmitting functions, thereby disabling the device's capacity to place or receive calls or use text messaging – while still permitting use of other functions that do not require signal transmission (e.g., games, built-in camera, MP3 player).

The name is derived from the fact that it permits the user to operate the device while on board a commercial aircraft while in flight, where the operation of cell phones and other devices that send or receive signals is generally prohibited due to the potential impact on aircraft avionics and the potential for interference with ground cell networks. Other names include flight mode, aeroplane mode, offline mode, and standalone mode.

FM Receiver, Bluetooth, wireless LAN antenna and GPS should still be operative if the phone is so equipped. Many models disable GPS and some of the other features, but this is inconsistent among manufacturers, since these latter functions are permitted on some aircraft and not others. Nevertheless, certain airlines specifically prohibit even the use of devices with a 'Flight mode' at all times.

While in airplane mode some devices allow the user to continue to write text or E-mail messages, and will save it to phone memory to send later when an active network connection is achieved.

Although it is not possible to send calls or text in Airplane mode, devices such as some Nokia smartphones allow the user to make an Emergency call regardless of the fact that the phone is in Airplane mode, whilst other mobile devices such as earlier Sony Ericsson devices only allow active mobile network connections (regardless of whether it is an Emergency call or not) after the device has been turned off and restarted to normal mode.

One feature of Airplane mode is that it saves power. Because the device doesn't search for a network signal as in other modes, the battery lasts longer.