Forgot to mention that Pond Inlet got cell phone service as of a couple months ago. We tested it successfully from the southern shore of Bylot Island / Sirmilik National Park. The provider is Bell, and my Telus iPhone 4 did not work on their sytem, so it's worth looking into compatibility before you head up there. I successfully used a SPOT messenger, Globalstar and Iridium satellite phones, as well as GPS. Lots of communication methods available, giving the false impression that it is not a remote part of the world!
Jordy Shepherd
Mountain Guide