Cell phone use on planes, back in the news again thanks to our friends at QC. You knew they'd find a used for Globalstar eventually. At least the real reason (which I gave up trying to convince the person sitting next to me of some 10 years ago) is not what they tell you. As reported in today's SD Union

Despite the well-known warnings to passengers, the real reason cell phones are banned from planes is that they can jam cellular towers on the ground. A cell phone signal from thousands of feet above ground can be picked up by dozens of towers, causing them to block or drop calls from other callers.

For you TDF fans, here's a collection of shots from this years event.

Never count out the scrappy competitor Nextel. many have mistakenly believed they are a one-trick pony: just give us PTT and let the market do the rest. Wrong. they have built an entire business around an area other carriers neglected while being clever and opportunistic. Check out this NY Times story to read more.

WiMax adoption...according the Parks group.

I'm back from Le Tour.

That was fun. I went with Inside Track Tours who put together a great package. We rode the cobblestones and velodrome from Paris-Roubaix, and the same course as the tour itself on most days. Stayed in some fine hotels with fine cuisine.

I'm thrilled to see that the experts consulted in some "think tank" web groups are so current on spectrum issues. The little dialogue in from the brains at AlwaysOn (The Problem with Wireless) could have happend ten years ago. In fact it did during the beginning of spectrum debates.

By attacking the product of spectrum and industrial policy without addressing the process that brought us here, and by once again trotting out the old "Europe is better" argument utterly fails to capture a salient fact: US wireless technology is far better (CDMA and EV-DO) Hz for Hz, and far cheaper (compare Metro PCS to the average cost for any Euro PTT) than anywhere ON THE PLANET.

I smell opportunity.

Well, it's not long now. Tomorrow we leave London for Belgium and Le Tour. Today's story focused on Lance's nerves and the historical significance of this year's tour more than the doping controversy that has come roaring back since the Festina incident of '98. Well, I may not have broadband at the hotel for the first few days of the tour. But if the photos and storys are good, I'll find a way to post 'em!

Ah, summer in London. Quite a change from Del Mar. But what action caused the bad karama behind the tube strike? Yes that's police tape in the photo accross the front of the entrance to the london underground aka "the tube" of mind the gap fame.

On a somber note, it seems that yet another doping scandal is associated with the Tour de France this year as Lance tries to set the record. Pity that cloud hangs over what is shaping up to be an epic tour. I'm certain the rain from that cloud won't dampen the spirits of those of us viewing the tour up close and personal.

If you have a broadband connection and want to see the original (medium resolution) photos I'm taking, have a look here.