| To many people the concept of the uses and | | | | the better voice quality and longer call duration |
| benefits of a satellite phone may be something | | | | you will need more powerful antennas or larger |
| new. These marvels of technology simply work in | | | | units. Most satellite phones includes incoming phone |
| places where regular mobile phones won't. | | | | number and voicemail with indicator which helps in |
| This means that using a cell phone on the streets, | | | | situations where the phone does not ring due to |
| at your workplace, home and even when you go | | | | low signal strength. Due to the rotation of |
| abroad are quite normal, however cell phones | | | | satellites, or decreased coverage due to clouds or |
| cannot be used in the most remote places like | | | | other obstacles, incoming calls will not always ring |
| when at sea, on mountains, on a desert and other | | | | the phone, but caller may leave voicemail for |
| remote places. In such places, coverage for the | | | | callback. Even with all the negative aspects of |
| normal cell phone is limited or non-existent and | | | | them it's the most ideal communication tool for |
| these are the places where satellite phones work | | | | travelers, hunters, adventure seekers and |
| their magic. | | | | business people who need the most portable and |
| Satellite phone send and receive calls via orbiting | | | | economical solution. |
| satellite technology. As you can imagine building up | | | | You not only maintain contact with family and |
| a service to cover most of the earth's surface | | | | friends on remote trips, it proves to be very |
| with a clear reception is a very technologically | | | | handy when in emergencies. You never know |
| challenging and expensive project. That is why | | | | when something bad happens to you while you go |
| most service providers charge a fairly steep rate | | | | on a trip. Wherever you may be, as long as there |
| per minute for voice and data communications. | | | | is a clear line of sight to the sky, you will receive |
| Though it may seem feasible for everyone to | | | | coverage and you can make emergency calls if |
| use these instead of cell phones, there are some | | | | you need to. People who go on frequent |
| disadvantages that have to be considered. The | | | | adventures in remote places and the sea should |
| main disadvantage is related to its coverage and | | | | buy or rent a satellite phone. The cost of the calls |
| the fact that it does not work indoors at all. | | | | can be pricey, but the more minutes you buy the |
| Satellite phones have bad coverage near tall | | | | cheaper your rates will be. However if you are |
| buildings too or in bad weather. This means that | | | | going for a 'one time adventure', instead of buying |
| they cannot be taken with you into building, | | | | a phone, it is better for you to rent one. The daily |
| shopping centers or even be used at home. | | | | rental rates range from $9 to about $15 a day |
| Another disadvantage of them is that they are | | | | and the longer you rent the phone the cheaper |
| relatively larger than cell phones and difficult to | | | | your rates will be. |
| carry with you when you go shopping, although | | | | There are many brands of for you to choose |
| recent years handsets became very popular and | | | | from network providers such as Thuraya, Iridium |
| more and more retailers are offering these | | | | or Globalstar satellite phones. However remember |
| relatively smaller mobile units. The best place to | | | | that the cost of satellite phones, and the per |
| use satellite phones is on trips to remote places | | | | minute charges are much higher than using regular |
| like the desert, forests, seas or when you go | | | | mobile phone. So it is better to compare features, |
| mountain climbing as regular cell phones don't | | | | rental rates and minute charges and than decide if |
| work in such locations. | | | | it is better for you to rent or buy before you |
| Although handheld units are very convenient to | | | | head out on your next dream vacation or |
| carry with you, it's very common to have | | | | business trip. |
| dropped calls every now and then. If you need | | | | |