Everest Summit Goes Wireless

Add some coffee, pastry, and a little background music and the highest point in the world is now no different from your local Starbucks. As of today, the summit of Mount Everest has wireless Internet, meaning that climbers will be able to make video calls and browse the Web from their cell phones. Ncell, a Nepalese telecom company, installed the phone base station at 17,000 feet so that coverage would reach the summit. "This will also be helpful, possibly, when there is an accident or an expedition mishap," said one Sherpa. Previously, climbers had to rely on the erratic, expensive satellite service provided by China Mobile since 2007. Ncell also operates the world’s lowest 3G base, located 4,595 feet below sea level in a European mine.