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To: Ilaine who wrote (2996)	3/2/2000 1:15:00 AM
From: Don Troppmann	Respond to of 5853

Hello CobaltBlue: You must have forgotten.....<It takes a village>. Don T.

To: Ilaine who wrote (2996)	3/2/2000 9:33:00 AM
From: Cosmo Daisey	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 5853

CB, The cost of making long distance calls from many state run phone systems in South America approaches $10 a minute. Many Americans have seasonal homes is SA. Does $1.70 make sense now? Also in apartment building a small antenna is mounted on the roof and all the apts use the single antenna for a mini phone system within the bldg. In countries where the GI is $300 who would they call anyway? Perhaps a solar powered phone booth in a village? cdaisey@brazil.com

To: Ilaine who wrote (2996)	3/2/2000 3:44:00 PM
From: Dan B.	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 5853

CobaltBule, Re: "I am trying to imagine who needs, and can afford, a cellphone that costs $1.70/minute U.S. but can't get to a land line." Back in the early 70's, a minute of wired long distance cost about what G* is starting with(unlike much costlier iridium)- and back then, that wired service was used by millions(if far more sparingly), at a time when the typical income level was about, oh, conservatively less than a third what it is now- maybe a sixth? With the whole world to draw from(unlike iridium), and millions of millionaires in this country alone today, I can imagine imminent G* success. They intend it to be used as a temporary fill-in for dead spots in cell coverage in this country, and I think that's going to be a security feature lots of families will want, drawing from the same security impetus that still drives some of the traditional cell phone purchases. The "it takes a village" argument also holds promise. That's service where there would otherwise be none- though of course you are right- no average Ethiopian is likely to blow his yearly income using under 1500 minutes of G* phone time(LOL)- still, I would think that ALL the villages are likely to acquire at least one phone in some quarter, now that it's possible to get one at all. G* availability plants seeds of desire. Iridium didn't attempt that. So I'm not sure(seldom am,if ever), but G* really could kick butt. Does this begin to make sense? Dan B