<p>Inflight phone calls may not be in the near future for American consumers, but the next closest thing is on the way: text messaging. The service, which comes from Gogo, will be part of the wireless product that the company already sells.</p><p>To use the service, passengers will need to download a special app from Gogo that connects the onboard wireless service to their mobile phone. Once connected, the service will effectively allow the user to send and receive text messages in real time. The service can actually work with regular phone calls as well, but US-based commercial airlines and the FAA have been reluctant to introduce the service to crowded aircraft. Consumers who fly on private aircraft, however, will be able to use both text and talk.</p><p>We caught up with Michael Small, the CEO of Gogo at last month's National Business Aviation Association meeting and Las Vegas and he gave us the scoop on the technology.</p><p>As far as pricing, exact fees are still being determined and will be based on the carrier operating the flight, but Mr. Small estimates that an inflight session will run around $2-$3. The service is expected to roll out for commercial aviation in the first half of 2014, while private carriers already have the service.</p><p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/grantmartin/2013/11/08/text-messaging-service-coming-to-commercial-airlines-from-gog/">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.informationweek.com/mobility/smart-phones/gogo-to-power-in-flight-calls-and-texts/240163724">Gogo To Power In-Flight Calls And Texts</a> (InformationWeek)</p><p><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/technology/chi-gogo-inflight-text-20131107,0,4626770.story">GoGo to introduce inflight texting, calling service</a> (Chicago Tribune)</p><p><a href="http://www.theverge.com/2013/11/8/5080456/gogo-launches-talk-and-text-lets-passengers-send-receive-calls-messages">Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi now able to handle phone calls and texts in the air</a> (The Verge)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dwUlo7R3j2hhu3M0a_2ZPneHhLAhM&ned=us">19 additional articles.</a></p>