Payphones are proving to be a boon to sailors on the high seas with crews using Solitaire 6000 and 6000 High Security Payphones - adapted to take tokens - to speak to family and friends ashore.
Offshore oil installations in the North Sea and off the coast of Brazil, as well as ferries in the Irish Sea are also using the phones, providing controlled pay telephony access (via satellite link) for crew, passengers and staff.
Available exclusively from Nimans, the phones offer resellers the chance to capture additional revenue in mainland locations such as prisons, universities, hospitals, pubs and B&Bs.
The Solitaire 6000HS Wi-fi Payphone is being used to offer paid Internet access on land as well as ships at sea.
"Search 'Payphones' on Google and our website is right up at the top," said Solitaire Managing Director Jeff Wilkes.
"That's just what Captain Shaun Andrew did from Seattle in Washington. His problem was that cod fishing boats that go out for long periods of time, only link to the outside via a satellite phone, one line for the captain and the other for crew - and how to manage , control, regulate and fund that crew link was a big problem.
"The answer was to fit a Solitaire payphone adapted to take tokens and a satellite signal. Since taking delivery - via an official UK reseller - other owners and skippers have seen the phone and made enquiries about sourcing their own."