Cell Phones from Wired.com

--- Ian Woollard wrote:
> 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.

It is probably caused by the frequencies used.

> 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.

That might be a good idea, although there are very few advantages over land
lines except to Rural customers.

> > 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.

Yes but a system that has all the strengths of Teledisic and Iridium without
the weaknesses would probably be cheaper to build from asteriodal resources and
may be able to make a profit.