Inmarsat RBGAN
Europe, North Africa, Middle East and Indian Sub Continent
Service will become global in 2005
Data rate 144k (contended)
Inmarsat Fleet and M4
Global except for polar regions
Data rate 64k
If memory serves correct the other service providers are a lot slower at around 9.6k , loads of people selling or even hiring sat phones on the web.
However to keep costs down and just prove you can do this sort of thing why not use a an ordinary cell phone to begin with. :idea: