About twenty years ago, when the very first mobile phones appeared in everyday life, they caused a small revolution. It became possible to communicate with the whole world from one's car, while shopping, or during a train journey.
Calling for help after a flat tire on the highway or announcing a delay while rushing to an appointment was no longer a problem. There was only one significant limitation to this convenience: dependence on telephone networks absent from many parts of the globe.
But fortunately, if you are the adventurous type and spend your life in high mountains, at sea, or in the desert, there are satellite phones!
International travelers know the importance of a satellite phone. A rare service, these phones are different from your traditional mobile phone that uses the GSM (Global System Mobile) network - an international standard for everything related to mobile networks. An operator offering good performance in this area can appeal to those who want better coverage on land or at sea; like sailors and boaters looking to connect with family members while enjoying their adventures.
A network available in all circumstances
Natural disaster, polar expedition or offshore navigation, there is no scenario where the satellite network is not available. Whether you want to make a call from the ice floe, download a file in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, or send an SMS from the Himalayas, your satellite phone is operational.
In addition, both our Globalstar and Iridium models use low-orbit satellites, meaning they are in motion, which eliminates the need to orient the antenna and go through a GPS point to make your calls, as is the case for phones connected to a geostationary satellite system.
Guarantees of satellite phones
In addition to flawless geographic coverage, satellite phones offer their users many other guarantees, depending on the chosen model. A Globalstar phone, for example, has a battery life of up to 4 hours of communication and 36 hours of standby. For hikers, for instance, whose stops in inhabited places with electrical outlets are often episodic, this is a valuable asset.
Furthermore, most satellite phones offer high qualities of resistance to both shocks and bad weather: for example, the Iridium 9575 Extreme, the most powerful satellite device currently on the market, has an ingress protection rating (IP) of 65, for total waterproofing.
Which satellite phone model to choose?
It all depends on your needs! If you mainly need to make or receive phone calls wherever you are, our lightweight and ergonomic Globalstar GSP 1700 will accompany you to the four corners of the world.
If, in addition to this convenience, you want to easily connect to the internet, the Iridium 9555 allows you to send emails through the use of partner networks, while Globalstar uses a satellite data modem, which offers a direct or indirect connection, depending on current availability.
The real plus of the Iridium Extreme 9575? Its GPS, which, combined with a tracking system and an SOS button, gives you the highest safety guarantees in this area.
Photo Credit: ©Iridium