Airplanes to Allow Cell Phone Calls

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/12/21/wired.airlines/index.html

Now I am by no means a conspiracy theorist but didn't people use their cellphones on the planes during 9/11? I have also tried to use my cellphone's during flights. During takeoff, cruising and decent...I can dial out during takeoff but once we get to a certain height it no longer works. So how did people dial out? Also if they were already using their phones...then why would it require some extra service?