“We’ve closed the cabin door. Please turn off all cell phones.” That familiar announcement may become obsolete as new technology and increased competition drive a trend of in-flight communications for air travelers.

Field producer David Lewkowict, photographer Cappy Cochran and I are working on a story about “In-Flight Cell Phones” for tonight’s Fox Report with Shepard Smith. We explore the question of whether American carriers are ready and able to compete in this new wireless frontier.

The high cost of oil, augmented by a weak dollar, has US airlines struggling just to fuel their planes. Equipping them with the latest gadgets for passengers may not be a domestic carrier’s top priority.

And even if your plane does offer cellular connectivity, don’t even think about firing up your Blackberry’s transmitter until you get over the Atlantic. The Federal Aviation Administration still bans cell phone use on planes flying in US airspace.

The FAA’s concern is that cell phones and other consumer electronic devices with transmitters may interfere with an aircraft’s navigation and communications equipment. However, the FAA’s counterpart across the pond - the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) - has determined that cell phone use poses no threat to commercial aviation.

Now enter the “Open Skies” accord, which goes into effect March 30. The agreement will reduce many of the restrictions on flights between the US and member nations of the European Union, allowing for more carriers and more competition.

European airlines are moving faster than their American competitors to provide airline passengers voice communications and high-speed Internet access.

“They will be differentiating themselves, not just on price, but also on the quality of services,” said Paul Domorski, President and CEO of Atlanta-based EMS Technologies, a leading developer of in-flight communications equipment. “I think that business travelers will make the decision to be more productive always.”

We went to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, the world’s busiest passenger airport, to ask travelers what they thought of the idea of in-flight personal communications. Most expressed cautious optimism - the caution, stemming from perceived safety issues as well as the potential annoyance factor.

“Love the computer part, hate the cell phone part,” said Atlanta business traveler Dennis Matthews as he waited for his luggage at the North Terminal. “I don’t want all the noise around. It’s the one chance to escape.”

According to EMS’s Domorski, the technology has built-in safeguards to prevent excessive in-flight chatter. The flip of a switch can limit the system to silent data functions, such as email or web browsing. Or it can be shut down altogether.

He said the system is also capable of limiting the number of passengers speaking on cell phones at any given time. Emirates and Ryanair, for example, have set a maximum of 14.

Different airlines will adopt different policies based on their individual business models, Domorski said. “It’s absolutely going to happen that you’re going to be able to use your Blackberry and cell phone in the air. It’s just a matter of when.”