I don't know much more than there's a new satellite in orbit (but not yet deployed) and prototypes of Blackberry-sized hybrid cell-sat phones, but this system could be just the thing for (North American) backcountry trekkers.
http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/scitech/2009/07/01/D995QF001_us_tec_techbit_satellite_launch/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/30/AR2009063003949.html
I'll be curious to see what devices they roll out, as well as pricing and rate structures. I've never been tempted to rent and lug a satphone, but I know a lot of folks do just that. This system might change the equation (sorry, rest-of-the-globe folks).
Cheers,
Rick
