A U.S. Airways jet departs Washington's Reagan National Airport next to American Airlines jets outside Washington, in this February 25, 2013 file photo.

Travelers will soon be allowed to use most of their electronic devices throughout the entire flight. The Federal Aviation Administration announced this Thursday, Oct. 31. But voice communications on smartphones will still be prohibited.

A team of aviation experts has been engaged in a study for months. The FAA based its announcement on the study results. Experts said the airline would soon let passengers use electronic devices like laptops, tablets and e-readers throughout their journey. Passengers may use their cell phones, but still voice communication will not be allowed.

Passengers in the U.S. were not allowed to use their cell phones until the flight went above 10,000 feet. Individual airlines had separate timings for allowing the passengers. FAA said in a statement that many carriers are expected to prove to the FAA that their flights let passengers use their devices safely throughout the journey by end 2013.

Michael Huerta, an FAA administrator, while talking to journalists at Reagan Washington National Airport Thursday, said every airline would determine when and how that was going to happen.

JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines were prompt to announce that they had plans to allow passengers to use approved electronic devices even before the flight reaching 10,000 feet. Both airlines have their representatives on the advisory panel of the FAA. The FAA will permit Wi-Fi service in the flight if the specific airline allows it.

Cranky Flier columnist Brett Snyder wrote an email saying that the present rules are obsolete. He added they are based on precedent not on reality. He appreciated the new developments stressing it was exactly what travelers always wished for. The new policy will cause a lot of joy among passengers when it is fully implemented.