Who, Other Than TV News Reporters, Needs A Satellite Video Phone?

The vast majority of people are probably of the opinion that they won't need satellite video phones anytime soon. But, far from it, businesses, emergency services and consumers alike are all taking up the technology to make life easier, simpler and safer.

The logical extension of satellite phone 'go anywhere' communications capacity is to make it truly multimedia by adding live video.

For business, there are countless applications from conducting meetings, reducing business travel costs and getting expert opinion and help to remote sites without the need to be physically be there.

The emergency services, meanwhile, are likewise seeing the obvious benefits in having the ability to transmit live images back from the scene to headquarters.

Consumers often have family members scattered all over the globe and rarely have the opportunity to see one another. How much of a difference is it, being able to see the person you're talking to even when oceans and continents separate you?

Of course, none of this is to say there aren't cheaper ways of doing it.