Anyone know anything about Satelite phones?

[Bullswan]

I got a used IRIDIUM Phone for Christmas because of all the "out of area" stuff I do. My wife wants us to make it possible to always be in touch with someone for emergency purposes so she mentioned it at work and one of her co-workers gave her this phone. My job is to learn about it and find out the cheapest way to maintain it.

Apparently there are two options: Maintain a plan or Buy Prepaid minutes. The phone came with a SIM card but it has no service attached to it.

So where do I go from here? If I just want to be able to get in touch with either the authorities (for rescue/emergency purposes) or let someone at home get in touch with me (if they are having an emergency) when I am out of the normal cell phone area what would be the easiest and cheapest way to go.


Thanks
Greg

 

[Scuba-Jay]

Greg when i was in Afghanistan a lot of the guys had sat phones. They used them to contact family back home and sometimes as emergency comms if our radios went down on missions. I dont know of anyone who took out a contract plan. Although buying individual minutes is more expensive, its less complicated, and from what i can see you dont plan on using it much. Take door # 2 and just watch your usage.

Scuba-Jay

 

[EastEndDiver]

I have the globalstar system.With this system we can only purchase a yearlong plan.I do know someone who had the iridium and he purchased what was called the emergency usage plan.I t went something like he had to pay a monthy fee(which was low) and he was charged by the minute when he used the phone.I think the monthly plan was less than 30 dollars and the minutes were about $1.00per.This was a few years ago.Look up any iridium provider on the web ,they all sell the same service plans.