Cell Phones from Wired.com

Ryan Healey wrote:

> An Iridium system with handsets almost as cheap as normal mobile handsets with
> about the same call costs would be an instant sucess, particulary if it is
> reliable (something Iridium wasn't) and the handsets were almost as small as
> current mobile handsets (the bricks used on Iridium may have detered some
> people).

Yeah, but Iridium doesn't work in cities at ground level and
doesn't work indoors... this may be somewhat characteristic of
satellite systems in fact.

I think positioning an Iridium like system to give internet access
might be a better market- that way fixed aerials on the roof can
see the satellites.

> Motorola lost a lot of money on Iridium and had to get rid of the constellation
> because of that although someone who can build a satellite phone system that is
> cheaper and doesn't drop out will be able to make a bit of money off it. The
> best way to do that would be to use asteriodal resources, maybe even build
> something that is better then Teledisic.

The costs to access these asteroidal resources would far outway the
launch costs.

> --- Ravenart@... wrote:
>
>>I found this article from Wired.com. It suggests future market for satellite
>>
>>cellaur business in near future. It is only a first step into space but you
>>know the line, "A small step..."
>>
>>Carl Mullin

--
- Ian Woollard (ian.woollard@...)

"Is a planetary surface the right place for an expanding
technological civilization?"
- Gerard O'Neill