i guess i have flown vfr too long to worry about the output burst of a cell phone. i've jumpseated in turboprop aircrafts where the crew sent text messages (and mms messages with pictures of their sleeping captain) to friends on the ground.
but as some of you have mentioned the transmitting power of a laptop's 802.11 is by far not enough to disturb the electronics in an aircraft flying. i can relate to a cell phone might interfer with relays when being very close or next to it. i don't think it would affect high tech electronics. arguing that you can hear static noise or see disturbance on a monitor when the cell phone is sending is not enough to conclude that it will affect systems in the helicopter. cell phones can't be transmitting with many watts, because if so we would get a lead pouch to protect our jewels from radiomagnetic waves when buying one.
maybe we should conduct a poll to see how many of you rotorheads turn off your cell phone when flying.
/ahp