Subject: TECHNOLOGY: Nera WorldPhone from Norway/Singapore __ Consistenty on the lookout for tools that would help missionaries save money on technology, or be more effective in the field, I am happy to report on the Nera WorldPhone. Here is a useful tool for missionaries who have to operate in remote regions, engaging in relief and development operations, or visiting with colleagues who are out in the field. The well-heeled missions executive would probably find this phone indispensable, who has to travel across the world and into countries where the phone service is unreliable, expensive or insecure, and where payphones do not work, this phone will help them keep in touch with headquarters and colleagues worldwide. One global number makes the user accessible wherever he is. One standard charge gives the user calls to anywhere. One touch of a button dials the world. The advertising claims: "Ring anywhere in the world... from anywhere in the world." The Nera WorldPhone was launched in Europe late-1996. It is now available and fully supported in Singapore. On Friday, Jan 17 97 (08.21.25 UTC), Missionary Aviation Fellowship announced Planet 1, a notebook sized satellite phone made by NEC. I checked and found out that one had to buy direct from MAF, based in USA. What if your missions agency was concentrating its activities in Africa or in Asia, and you are using Singapore as your regional base? Well, the Nera WorldPhone can now be bought in Singapore. On checking with Nera (SEA) Pte. Ltd., I found out that their product costs at least S$ 6,000.00 (US$ 4167.00). The unit cost could of course be lowered if a bulk purchase is made. This phone has a standard 3 m cable linking it to its antenna, and the maximum cable length for optimum performance, is 80 m. The phone need not be held out in the open; so, if you need to take shelter, you could still use the phone, with the antenna outside -- unlike its rival, so the salesman at Nera (SEA) claimed. Furthermore, it offers a 3-hour talk-time, and a 48-hour standby-time. What is more, it offers handsfree operation and its LCD panel is backlit and easier on the eyes. Without batteries, it weighs in at 1.9 kg. (vs 2.6 kg for the NEC model). Nera WorldPhone has 50% of global market share. What that means is, it is here to stay. By the turn of this century, such phones are expected to shrink further in size -- to that of a cellular phone... Until the price of such small satellite phones begin to shrink as production [118 lines left ... full text available at <url:http://www.reference.com/cgi-bin/pn/go?choice=message&table=04_1997&mid=3891795&hilit=DESIGNERS+DRUG> ] -------------------------------- Article-ID: 04_1997&3865330 Score: 78 Subject: Re: Pasty White Thighs