Thank you to all who replied to my inquiry on the satellite/cell phone. It is Globalstar. Aside from the questionable future prospects for such a system, the price looks very good for the unit and the statements made by reps for its "global" use are unqualified. However, a look at the Globalstar web site indicates that the coverage is not quite global. I would estimate that a world cruiser would be out of touch most of the time. The North Atlantic, Carib. , a band around the coasts of the US and Canada, South Africa, Australia and that's it folks! I don't think that the salespeople have looked at that map. There seems to be a variety of services and the call charges seem vague - just how much will calls cost??? If anyone has info that the service is indeed global including high seas coverage in the Pacific and South Atlantic, Indian Ocean, etc. I would like to hear of it. Not that I am going out thar, but my friend is. Frank Lawlor (building HOBO)