Delta flight attendants get Nokia phones for in-flight services

ATLANTA, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. airline Delta says it is handing out Nokia smartphones to flight attendants to assist customers who want to make onboard purchases.

More than 19,000 Delta flight attendants have begun using Nokia 820 Windows Phone handsets to ring up purchases of in-flight services, the airline said in a release Thursday.

The phone will provide near real-time credit card processing for onboard purchases, including upgrades to Delta's Economy Comfort seating upgrade, the airline said.

he Nokia phones will allow eReceipts for purchases to be emailed to customers, Delta said, and future plans included the ability to read coupons from a customer's mobile device.

"Delta's 19,000 in-flight professionals are there for the safety and comfort of our customers, and equipping them with innovative solutions means they can better meet our customers' needs on board every flight," Joanne Smith, senior vice president of Delta's in-flight service, said in a statement.

The system was developed by Microsoft, Avanade and AT&T using input and feedback from flight attendants, Delta said.