Qantas replacing staff BlackBerrys with iPhones, Australian flights may be held up by Tiny Wings

[![Qantas Airbus A380][1] ][2]

RIM has already been [feeling the sting][3] of lost customers. That sting isn't getting any gentler, as [Qantas][4] just outlined plans to replace all 1,300 BlackBerry phones in the fleet with iPhones. As the airline explains to _The Australian_, a mix of cost overhead and employee feedback is steering the decision to wing it Apple's way. We also imagine Qantas may be facing the usual airline dilemma of having to replace large swaths of equipment after [clinging to old technology][5] for dear life. Naturally, the company is keen to reassure passengers that the security is up to snuff as well, and a [Bring Your Own Device][6] effort could see Android fly once it's approved. The time scale is indefinite enough that it's unlikely that we'll see the airline crew members distracted by a game of [_Amazing Alex_][7] on that next flight to Melbourne -- we only know that they'll be weaning themselves off of BlackBerry Messenger before too long.

Filed under: [Cellphones][8]

[Qantas replacing staff BlackBerrys with iPhones, Australian flights may be held up by Tiny Wings][2] originally appeared on [Engadget][9] on Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our [terms for use of feeds][10].

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