SatPhones — Why Can't They Make It Work? 337
RedEaredSlider writes "Satellite phones aren't as clunky as they once were, and technology has made them more powerful. Gone are the days when satellite phones had to be accompanied by a suitcase. Yet to date, the field is littered with bold attempts at a phone that could be used anywhere, without depending on earthbound cell phone networks. Billions have been invested, with relatively little to show for it. Part of the answer is debt. TerreStar is only the latest casualty of a crushing $1.2 billion debt load. The company introduced its Genus phone last month, but is in the middle of Chapter 11 proceedings. It's unclear that the phone will sell enough to help TerreStar stay in business, especially when it carries a $799 price tag."
Yeah, but it comes with cool perks (Score:3, Funny)
What other phone can boast of having a full audio archive of every single phone call you ever make, courtesy of the NSA? Carrying one of these puppies comes with the cool prestige of being able to hit on the classy girl at the bar with James Bond lines like "Either I *am* a spy, or I'm getting spied *on*--that's for you to decide, my darling."
Why Can't They Make It Work? (Score:2, Funny)
cause ya cannae change the laws of physics (captain)
Let's see... (Score:2, Funny)
1. don't work indoors
2. cost a lot more than cell phones that do work indoors, show real-time video, run apps. etc.
Did I miss anything?
Re:Let's see... (Score:5, Funny)
1. don't work indoors 2. cost a lot more than cell phones that do work indoors, show real-time video, run apps. etc.
Did I miss anything?
3. Doesn't have Twitter client
Re:Can't make a call from inside (Score:5, Funny)
If you are in a car you just need to give the phone enough power to burn away the roof of the car so that it has a clear view of the sky.
Debt is the whole problem (Score:2, Funny)
Part of the answer is debt.
The fact that there are some that make money by charging interest is the fundamental problem of Capitalism, in my view; the reason why it can't work in the long term. This is not a new and revolutionary insight - even the early Christians recognised "usury" (orig. charging interest on loans) as one of the major sins - which, incidentally, is why Jews ended up being regarded as greedy money lenders: Jews were excluded from most other careers, but had no religious qualms about money lending.
Interest payment introduces an unproductive overhead on the economy (ie somebody is making a profit without delivering a tangible product), which in my view lies at the bottom of the constant need for economic growth. The solution, I suppose, could be to stop paying your debt, simply. Go bankrupt, let somebody else buy the company at a heavy discount; repeat a few times and it may end up being a wothwhile business.
Or society could simply decide that rent-taking is no longer allowed. Yes, yes, I know: heresy.