Delta to swap out Microsoft devices for Apple gadgets

If you’re taking a Delta flight in the near future, you’ll soon see the company’s employees using iPhones and iPads instead of Nokia phones and Surface tablets. The airline plans to switch to iOS devices in 2018. The news about this move came from an email that was obtained by MacOSKen from two different sources; however, Delta hasn’t publicly announced the news just yet. The iPhone 7 Plus will be taking the place of the Nokia phones they use, while the iPad Pro will be replacing the Microsoft Surface tablets. These mobile devices have been used for things like in-flight customer service and sales as well as electronic flight bag. The change will affect over 23,000 flight attendants and 14,000 pilots. Delta says it plans to maintain its partnership with Microsoft but the entire suit of tools used by the pilots and flight crew will be powered by iOS. Delta is joining other Joint Venture partners like Aeromexico, Air France, KLM, and Virgin Atlantic in adopting iOS as its platform of choice. 

Source: Cult of Mac

Some airlines equip planes with fire-containment bags for overheating devices

A few airlines are ready for any possible overheating devices. Alaska Airlines and Virgin America have equipped their planes with bright red fire-containment bags. Delta plans to install these bags as well. The bags are made with fire-resistant materials and are designed to hold portable devices that overheat or catch fire. These can withstand temperatures up to 3,200 degrees Fahrenheit. According to CNET, the Federal Aviation Administration has recorded 129 incidents involving things like batteries smoking, overheating, or exploding in passenger bags or cargo. So far this year, 23 incidents have been reported, which is up from 15 back in 2015.

Nokia Lumia 820 takes to the skies with Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines aims to create a more streamlined method for on-board payments and passenger interaction by providing over 19,000 flight attendants with Nokia Lumia 820 devices. The Windows Phone 8-powered smartphone comes with an Avanade point of sale (POS) system that runs on the Microsoft Dynamics for Retail mobile point-of-sale platform and AT&T’s 4G LTE network. It allows flight attendants to handle almost real-time credit card processing for things like on-board purchases as well as seating upgrades. They can even email eReceipts to passengers. 

Aside from already offering a Fly Delta app for Nokia Lumia and other Windows Phone devices, Delta wants to develop the service with the ability to read coupons on customer’s smartphones and give the flight attendants essential customer-specific information through their Lumias to help create a more personalized service for each passenger.

Source: Conversations by Nokia