How about a product review? if you are considering a globalstar or Spot satellite phone (they are the same) for use in AK, forget it, buy the Iridium. I have a full season now of trying to use the globalstar phone. Although there coverage map shows full coverage for AK that is false. You will wait up to thirty minutes for coverage, and then you can expect at least two to three dropped calls, which for my business is not viable, it would be less so if there was an emergency.

On top of that they advertise monthly plans, but that is a lie, if you read the fine print (I, much to my chagrine, did not) it is an annual plan, you cannot cancel it for the months that you will not use it without a $250 penalty. The webpage is specifically designed to make you think they are indeed month by month plans. Unfortunately, it wasn't just me but two friends that fell for the same bait and switch. I will pay the $250 chalk it up as an idiot tax, and then buy an Iridium (of which I have not heard any bad things). Globalstar's customer service sucks

G star worked very well 7-8 years ago and then they started losing satellite space. We complained so much about it that they put us on a pay as you use plan. I used it last summer again, still had to wait for the bird to be overhead but it did work. I never received a bill.

Would not recommend to my friends. Iridium is the way to go.

Up to a couple years ago we had a G-star phone in the ambulance, it was VERY unreliable. Then we switched to Iridium & never had a problem getting a call out. My Spot thingie uses the G-star satellites too, but it works about 42 of 43 times, (pretty good). Bought an Iridium phone & it works every time (good cheap plan too).

Ahhh, Globalstar.

Globalstar's network in AK (or anywhere north of about mid-north canada) is poor. You need to look at where their base stations are. If I knowingly would be using the product there on a regular basis, I would probably think twice. They could really fix this by adding a base station somewhere in northern Alaska, but I think the economics and other factors prevent them from doing so.

In the lower 48 states, mexico, and many areas of Canada, it is very good now.

Another thing to keep in mind is their network really sucked for many years. It has not been until the last 2-3 months where they have got their affairs in order. On the same token, so have they raised their prices. However if you haven't used them in the last 90 days, your results may vary.

It does serve a purpose, and for what it is I've been happy with it. The voice quality beats the others hands down. $39/month unlimited voice and data (granted, on one of the old plans), or $300/year for 120 minutes of "emergency" airtime pooled across the year ($25/month). Combined with the availability of the old GSP-1600 phone off ebay for $80, that is a price that is just hard to beat for a recreational user. I wouldn't want to run a business off it unless it was the "unlimited usage" phone you put in the break room for them to call home to family or similar...

Iridium. Works.