Satellite Phone Systems

Want to go to the middle of nowhere, but need to stay in touch? Far away from landlines and hours from a cell tower? You need a satellite phone. Whether your mission takes you to the top of the mountain, through the scorching desert, or across the sea, a satellite phone allows you to keep on top of those important issues. Imagine being able to talk, fax, and send data from anywhere in the world ...

Of all the wild technologies in today's world, none have quite the same allure as the satellite phone.

Iridium is perhaps the best known satellite phone provider (for a number of reasons). The company uses a system of 66 operational low-earth-orbit satellites (along with 13 spares), in polar orbits at a distance of 485 miles above the Earth's surface. Calls to an Iridium phone are billed as international calls. The company aviation, construction, disaster relief, forestry, government, leisure travel, maritime, media and entertainment, military, mining, oil and gas, and utilities as their major markets.

The original company, Iridium LLC, went through some infamously rough financial times at the end of the dotcom boom and was acquired by Iridium Satellite LLC in December 2000.

The company sells its satellite phone services through a collection of service partners, along with value added resellers and manufacturers. Iridium service providers include: AirCell, Applied Satellite Technology, Blue Sky Network, C2EM, European Datacomm, Ribertel, France Telecom, GayaCom, General Dynamics, Geolink, Globalcom, Global Plus, Global Satellite, Globe Wireless, GloCall, Honeywell, HMC, IDL, Infosat, JAT, Marconi, Marlink, MVS Group, Roadpost, SAIF Group, Satcom, Satellite Communications, Savanna International Telecom, SingTel, Stratos, Streamlink, Greenland, Telenor, Telespazio, Telstra, Telecom, WCC, and Xantic.

To be sure, satellite phone service is anything but cheap. But when there's no alternative, you just have to pony up ...