Well, to be fair, there is still consistency...at the end of Season 2, the hatch venting (or whatever it was) apparently knocked out communications. Ben said something like "ever since the sky turned purple our communication has been out" and that seems to imply that satellite communication from this phone would also malfunction. Also, if anyone can confirm this, by Doppler shift the purple sky means that it was a burst of energy moving away from them, not being attracted, right?

Yeah ... Wot that guy sed ,

There is some inconsistency in the show about when radio signals are "blocked". In the first season, the radio beacon is easily heard. Now it's claimed that the "satphone" is being blocked. Yet, the "locator" is indicating that they're on the North American west coast. I assume this means the phone has a GPS receiver? One explanation is that was the last location the phone successfully established position and the display hasn't updated. FYI, satphone and GPS signals would both be in the same general swath of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum. Now, if the phone is able to switch to lower terrestrial bands....

Of course, this way off in the weeds. My guess is that none of this should be seriously considered with a simple plot device that moves the story along.

Does anyone else think it's interesting that the phone is searching for a signal, but the search is centered right around PORTLAND, OREGON?

The actress who played Nadia is supposed to be in the "Greatest Hits" episode. I think that Nadia may be working with Naomi. Unless Charlie crossed paths with Nadia in a flashback, that would be one good reason for her to be in the episode.

Lostnut is right, not a normal cellphone - this is a satellite phone. They used these on rescue trips, as well as research trips out to the center of the ocean.

Why don't they tell Sayid that the guy who shot him in the arm is still alive? That would really set Sayid into a frenzy

and this is going to take us to the listening station and the danielle story
but what the hell why did lock let danielle go with the dynamite he askd nothing she is going give uss a explosive surprise in the finale can't wait

I don't know why they never searched for the radio tower yet anyway. It seems like they should have searched every Dharma station that they know about more thoroughly as well. The Staff and the Pearl would likely have more uses than what they have seen. Why would the Swan be the only station with an armory?

When Juliet said to Jack, "Should we tell her", I think she meant that Kate is pregnant. This would also explain Jack's loss of interest in Kate.

I think that the reason they can't use the phone is because it would be too... convenient. If they had a phone like that- they could call someone- then the show would be over. I'm glad it doesn't work : )

(I know- I'm a butt head)

Not sure where people think they heard "the producers ruled out time travel" but I never heard such a thing, in fact I heard them rule it IN. The anti time travel people will seemingly go to great lengths to try to rule this out.

The producers said no to time travel, but what about parallel timelines... like two trains going the same direction on side by side tracks. Desmond has the ability to catch glimpses of what's going on in the other train.

Does no one notice where the center of of the "blip" is as it searches for a signal? According to the map...about Portland would be my guess.

Now where is Mittleos Biotech located?...

They said that time travel would be a little too cheesy, but they had to use that one Desmond flashback/time travel episode to set up the arc for something else.

The producers ruled out Pergatory, did they also rule out time-travel or are they not saying either way. Time travel seems just too hokey to me.

This is not an ordinary phone, it is a satellite phone. Most people have never seen one but I understand these phones can get reception anywhere in the world. Something on the island is obviously blocking reception.

It can't be that much of a future phone if she was hired by Penny Widmore.

I keep telling y'all . . . it's a FUTURE iPhone! ;-)

The symbols to the right of the volume level indicator also shows the "antenna" symbol with bars next to it and the double arrows indicating data transfer.

I say that's the volume too. The symbol for signal typically looks like an umbrella flipped out.

Are you referring to the three green bars in the upper left corner? If so, that looks like a speaker icon to me, and therefore the bars are probably the volume level. Remember, when Sayid first turned it on it was blasting and then got quieter. I assume he turned it down.

I think it's just a really high tech phone. I don't think it points to any sort of time discrepancy. The EMG energy is probably interfering with the signal, but I think that Juliet and Jack may solve that problem, given their cryptic conversation when Kate tells them about the Sat phone

Just because we live in a time that we seem to have the world at our finger tips, it is possible that there is technology that is in development that we don't know about, so why is it that just because Sayid sees somekind of technology that he doesn't recognize, it means they're in another time. Maybe Penny had that sat phone developed for this specific mission because she knew the island had some kind signal interruption.

Very true, satellite phones are much different, reception wise, than cell phones. I think they can't get a signal cuz' they're not in their time or really are dead and this whole thing is a...dream, another time, purgatory?

Well, to be fair, I am assuming your phone that doesn't get a signal is a cell phone. They transmit through towers down here on the earth. A satellite is much more likely to get reception out in the middle of nowhere because it transmits through satellites orbiting the earth. Generally that makes for a more clear shot.

Lol, yup they have 'the network' now

So now Sayid got the iPhone prototype working? They are ready to make millions!!!1.

Sayid always says something that sters up more questions. Now he says that he has never seen technology so sophisticated as that phone. That make us believe that several tears past or something timewise.... either that or Sayid is only good with late 70' to 80's tech (like the Swan comp. or basic radios :­P)

Anyway heres a picture of the backside of the phone, for what its worth.
Clickie