Chander Agarwa, the executive director of Transport Corporation of India, has been described as a "gadget freak" whose latest desire is to own a satellite phone.

He said, that if he had a satellite phone, he would be able to make calls from remote places and deserted lands.

Mr Agarwa, who has a passion for searching for unusual information on the internet, told the India Times that his current phones include a BlackBerry 8800 and an O2 Xda Exec.

"I use O2 when travelling overseas. The in-built Wi-Fi comes handy on international trips."

He also told the newspaper that he sends 100 emails a day and receives the same number.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that French motorbike enthusiast Paul Mondor is to undertake a dangerous cross-country trip armed with a satellite phone.

The motorcycle journey across Labrador includes a trip across a 1,500-kilometre roadway of ice

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