how to access the count(*) property?

[eluser]seanloving[/eluser]
One of my database queries starts like this:

Code:

$row = $this->db->select('count(*), name, address, telephone')

then later on I when I access the object properties like this...

Code:

$name = $row->name;
$address = $row->address;
$phone = $row->telephone;

$quantity = $row->count(*);  // gives error

I get an error at the count(*) property.

What is the proper syntax to access the count(*) property?

Thanks
Sean Loving