Today, there is a huge selection of not only cell phones but cell phone providers as well to choose from. For most people the normal cell phone is adequate for their needs. However, if you travel a lot, particularly overseas or offshore, you will quickly find that the cell phone you bought doesn't work because there aren't any towers nearby, as in the case of traveling offshore. If you travel overseas, your cell phone won't work there either as they have their own dedicated networks.

If you are a business person and you find that you travel all over the globe, or if you find yourself offshore frequently because of the work you do or for pleasure boating, the ownership of a satellite phone is essential for communications with your friends and family back home.

Today's satellite phones are economical to buy, though the calling plans will be much more expensive compared to cell phones, and they will work just about everywhere. With a network of approximately 70 satellites encircling the globe and growing, providing coverage to most of the planet except the most remote areas, having a satellite phone will give you peace of mind that you can reach family or work associates at the push of a button.

Serious thought and consideration should go into the purchase a cell phone, but if you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, the peace of mind of knowing that you are connected to the outside world with your satellite phone is immeasurable.

Older satellite phones were bulky. Today's satellite phones are much more compact, priced affordably, and best of all, the reception is crystal clear.

Eventually, the industry will entirely be composed of satellite phones and providers as that is the next logical step. Industry leaders are lobbying hard to push their agenda by convincing political leaders and investors to consider satellite phones as the next generation in cell phone technology for the average consumer. Eventually, every corner of the globe, even the most remote regions of the planet, will have access to this technology.

This technology is much more reliable than traditional cell phones. Signals never get dropped as you constantly are within reach of the satellite's coverage. Eventually, I envision satellite phones and PC's to start merging their technologies even more than they currently are, just like cell phones are. Imagine having a satellite phone that has crystal clear reception and reliability along with the capability to access the internet anywhere on the planet.

Some of the leading players in this industry are Iridium, Inmarset, and Globalstar. They require an annual service fee that ranges from several hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, depending on how many minutes you get in your plan. Extras, like voicemail, data transfer, and fax capabilities cost extra. So does roaming. Your plans have a fixed rate within your calling plan, for example North America. Go to Europe, and roaming charges will apply, but hey, at least you have access.

These costs are usually out of the range of most consumers, though eventually these costs will lower as the technology becomes more widely used, as with any new technology. However, for the people that usually would require this kind of service, the costs are tax deductible which will help tremendously.

Another option is to consider renting. Most dealers usually have a plan that costs around $5 to $7 per day. This is considerably cheaper and an excellent alternative if you just plan on having the need for satellite coverage for a week or so.