World’s ultimate unplugged vacations

It's getting harder to escape the blinking light of one's BlackBerry while on vacation. The handheld device is now supported in 135 countries and available from over 350 carriers and channels.

Travelers might also be surprised to hear cell phones ring in the Yosemite Valley, Galapagos Islands and even on Mount Everest. Not only are these remote destinations now rigged for basic cell phone service, wireless Internet is available at local hotels and resorts.

That's not so good for those seeking a reprieve from the daily grind.

Just 10 years ago, finding an area untouched by widespread digital technology was easy. But growing demand for cell phone coverage and wireless Internet access in even the most far-flung locales has changed that. Now those seeking a vacation from work and technology are left with two choices: travel far out of range or practice self-restraint.

Leaving the wired world

Dropping out of the world's many cell phone networks requires finding a very remote vacation spot. Eighty percent of the world's population currently has cellular coverage of some type. By 2010, that number will jump to 90 percent, according to Wireless Intelligence, a data research service provided by the GSM Association, a trade organization of mobile operators.

As Internet, cellular and data coverage has expanded, the expectations of business executives to stay connected while on vacation have kept apace.

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