"Pathetic" is a relative term. If this technology is ever going to make sense in developed areas, it's not going to be soon. I am going to quote some statistics off the top of my head and they may be a little bit off but I know they're close. 60% of the world's population doesn't have access to a telephone. 40% of the world's population have never even used a telephone.
Have we argued about this before? If so, please forgive me for the rant, if not, rant follows. Yes, I know the people we are talking about can't afford cell phones or laptops. I don't care if the technology ever makes a dime - I keep saying that. This is a way to bring information to people. That's what the Internet is about. The first users are going to be schools, libraries, and hospitals in remote areas, remote industries like mines, and forms of transportation like ocean going vessels, airplanes, and trains. Governments will use it for their armies, navies and air forces, too. It's going to happen, it is happening, it will continue to happen.
Probably, like so much else, a lot of the good stuff is going to be spun off by the Department of Defense. They're taking Iridium phones with them on battlefield exercises - that's why they wouldn't let Iridium die.
End rant. |
