Mesh networking cellphones in New Orleans.

Mesh networking cellphones in New Orleans.

Why aren't there ad-hoc battery-powered "cell towers in a barrel" that could be "bombed" or floated into disaster zones to turn the thousands of useless cell phones in people's pockets into a crisis mesh network.

(Answer this question, and we can deal with the problem of recharging the cellphones next. But look: today's cellphones are powerful receivers and transmitters and computers. In crisis they should be re-purporseable, whether the telcos like it or not.)

This is not a rhetorical question. Phone Phreaks, this is your moment to shine.

RSVP ASAP http://jonschull.blogspot.com/2005/09/mesh-networking-cellphones-in-new.html

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I've posted something like this at recovery2.org http://www.4setup.com/index.php/Possible_Projects
and at http://radar.oreilly.com/archives/2005/09/etel_announcing_the_emerging_t.html#comments