Cellphone taken to new heights

NEPAL: A British man has set a world record by making the first mobile telephone call from the summit of Mount Everest, taking the blessing — or curse — of the cell phone to new heights.

“It’s cold, it’s fantastic, the Himalayas are everywhere,” Rod Baber said in the phone call from the top of the 8,848-metre (29,198-foot) peak early on Monday morning, according to a voice recording posted on his weblog.

“I can’t feel my toes, everyone is in good spirits — we got here in record time, it is amazing,” said Baber.

His achievement was made possible by China Telecom, which has set up a mobile phone tower at base camp on the north side of the mountain.

While the Himalayas had been cherished as one of the few places on earth where you can truly get away from it all, the news has nevertheless been welcomed by those involved in the adventure business.

“It’s good news because communications are essential in the mountains where climbers face huge risks,” said Ang Tsering Sherpa, the president of Nepal’s Mountaineering Association.

“The mobile coverage could help in rescue operations,” he said.

The call is one of several high altitude stunts being carried out in the current Everest climbing season.

Kathmandu, Tuesday, AFP.