News

Cellphone user says "I'm on the mountain!" - peak rate call?

by Lester Haines | posted on 24 May 2007

Brit climber Rod Baber has succeeded in making the world's highest mobile phone call - a 40-second chat from the top of Everest, news agencies report. But how did he get hold of the phone? It's not on sale yet!

The call, made on a Motorola Z8, officially took place at 8,848 metres in temperatures of -30°C. Baber admitted: "It's cold. It's amazing. The Himalayas are everywhere. I can't feel my toes."

He also sent a cheesy text message to the phone's suppliers, declaring: "One small text for man, one giant leap for mobilekind - thanks Motorola."

Baber's high-altitude comms feat was made possible by a China Telecom mast with line of sight to the north ridge. A recording of the call is available on Baber's blog