Globalstar GSP-1700 satphone also loaded with EV-DO

Generally, when Engadget editors hit the road, we make do with our ordinary GSM handsets for voice calls, but that strategy doesn't always work when we're reporting from, say, the rural fringes of Kazakhstan. Today, satellite phone manufacturer Globalstar just announced the GSP-1700, the company's smallest satphone to date, weighing just 7.1 oz (203 g) and 43 percent smaller by volume. In addition, this Qualcomm handset packs an EV-DO modem, so you can get high-speed data access from "virtually anywhere you can see sky," according to the company's website. The GSP-1700 also stays loaded for four hours of talk time and 36 hours of standby time on a single charge. We're not sure on the price of this handset, but given that its predecessor, the GSP-1600 goes for $750 (without a service plan), it's a safe bet that this one will go for at least that much when it's released "in the coming months."

[Patiwat @ Nov 9th 2006 5:13PM]

43 percent smaller by volume?

What's the use of paying for an expensive satellite phone if you don't get the massive Miami Vice-esque look :-)

[Michael @ Nov 9th 2006 5:28PM]

My experience with Globalstar has always been plagued with problems. They cannot maintain a connection when switching between satellites and the low orbit of their satellites means a short conversation before the satellite fell behind the horizon and the call was dropped. It is a great product with none of that delay that has always been common on the older satellite phone systems, they just seem to have a long way to go on their service.

[Borat Sagdiyev @ Nov 9th 2006 5:49PM]

Very Nice!

[Steve Packard @ Nov 9th 2006 11:48PM]

I take issue with the "virtually anywhere you see the sky" thing. If you look at their map http://www.globalstarusa.com/en/content.php?cid=300 you'll see that most land masses are covered, but for trans-oceanic stuff it's absolutely useless. Also the better part of africa is not covered (which is where you'd really need a sat phone over anything else).

I personally own an Iridium 9500. Okay..it's not as small as the Globalstar phones, and it's just as expensive (if not more). But if I'm gona buy a "world phone" I want it to actually work anywhere....literally anywhere

[carpel tunnel @ Nov 10th 2006 2:31AM]

Their service sucks arse, I have it and the call drops every time after at most 3 mins of talking. That is when there is a signal, half the time the phone couldn't find its ass with both hands.
I will cancel my service shortly - should have bought an Iriduim phone instead.

[Tim @ Nov 10th 2006 8:28AM]

Behold Globalstar's shiny new phone! Hopefully no one will notice that only 75% of Globalstar's satellites are currently working (as per their latest FCC report)...they'll be too busy staring at the shiny buttons to notice that their calls never connect. Globalstar < global and definitely < star.

[Craig Van Wagner @ Nov 13th 2006 2:59PM]

Tim: Where can you find that FCC report on the status of the satellites? Let me know if you can find it. Craig

[inte @ Nov 13th 2006 3:13PM]

This phone sucks, for it does not support GSM-Sims any more - how would one roam on Globalstar while there is no way to register your GSM-Sim?
Sucks even more, as it does not support SMS-MO, meaning one can not send Text FROM the phone. Just receive. And do not even dare to think about add-on features like MMS or WAP...
And, sucks most of all, they droped the cellular part of the phone. Therefore you'll never receive any call while indoors. Nope...
Best choice is Thuraya. Apart from heading for global coverage, they even now cover most of Africa and Asia (where satellite-coverage is REALLY useful).
Apart from the SO-2510 (which is REALLY the smallest and lightest satellite phone!) you can get the SO-2520, which still weights less than the GSP-1700, runs windows mobile and supports multimedia-feature. Not to mention the build-in camera, and quadband-GSM. Who the hell goes for Globalstar???

[Maurice Winn @ Nov 15th 2006 9:31PM]

Coverage over Africa doesn't matter for nearly everyone, same for the Arctic and Antarctica. The dropped calls will reduce in April when holes in the constellation are plugged when new satellites are launched. Yes, connection is bad for now. But it's the best satellites voice service - when there's no hole. The new phones mean the battery won't be flat so often.

[inte @ Nov 16th 2006 10:02AM]

No, its NOT the best satellite service. One cannot say this. Regarding coverage, Iridium ist the best service appliciable. Thats for sure. Taking coverage not into account, the LEO-service cannot compete with services like Thuraya, AcES or Inmarsat. I'm familiar with both technologies, and I'll tell you: it IS annoying when the particular LEO-Satellite on which you are linked up to decides to fly behind a building or or tree or something, so either you have to follow it or your connection dropped. At least this was my experience with Iridium. Not to mention the poor speech quality of this particular service.
I'm now with Thuraya, and I REALLY prefer it. First of all, I can use it with my cellular contract, but still I do not have to pay heavily overpriced airteam. E.g. Globalstar-service with cellular-simcard costs around 4.50�/minute, while when roaming on Thuraya I pay less then 1.50�/minute. Second, the connection is much more stable then I ever experienced with Iridium. Provided there is a connection. Of course the rather low angle of clear view to the sky needed to hook up to the Thuraya-satellite especially from northern-Europe is a limitation, even more when travelling in a mountained region. However, IF you have the connection (which is really not too hard to set up), its stable. And, last but not least, look at the handsets, please. The "New" Globalstar handsets looks like the GSP-1600, except that the Display and the battery were replaced, and the cellular unit was dropped, therefore resulting in a slightly thinner and lighter phone. But, especially regarding the features, one cannot call it "modern". Tss.
Cheers,
Chris

[Tim MAthews @ Nov 16th 2006 7:00PM]

The globalstar service is phoenominal for US and the Caribbean.
http://www.satellitephonestore.com/globalstar/globalstar-sat-phone.php

Other than that, I would reccommend the Iridium phones.
http://www.satellitephonestore.com/iridium/iridium-satellite-phone-rental.php

Yes, the GSP-1600 is a new, sleek satellite phone, (I just tested one and did not see anything about the EV-DO on the phone) and I am sure it will go over very well.
http://www.satellitephonestore.com

[Stefan @ Nov 17th 2006 3:02PM]

Hi,
you guys seem familiar with the Globalstar system.
On globalstar.com I found a press release saying that Globalstar is about to open an African gateway:
http://www.globalstar.com/en/news/pressreleases/press_display.php?pressId=412
Is this true? Would be great! However, I cannot find any further information on that. Will the whole continent be covered? http:/www.globalstar.co.za seems to be recently updated (according to the visit-counter on the bottom of the page:-)). Anyway, there is not much content yet.
What is this EV-DO thing? I cannot find any further source than the press-release. Is the Globalstar network capable of this feature at all?
What does the "Encryption"-icon on the GSP-1600/1700-display stand for? Are Globalstar->Globalstar calls encrypted(at least when using the Qualcomm handsets?). Which algorithm is used? (AES?).

[Art Gutzman @ Jan 18th 2007 6:45PM]

I only use my purchased globstar only two or three weeks a year while hunting in the brush. I've found out that you can't depend on the phone in case of emergency as this last fall proved. everytime I tries to hook up I got either no signal or dropped my call after only a moment. The whole purpose of having the phone is (in my case) in case of emergency. This is only halfway up British Columbia and here is bad service. April will shape up whether I continue using globstar service.

[Tim @ Feb 13th 2007 1:29PM]

See the following article for a better understanding of why your service may not be working: http://media.seekingalpha.com/article/26263

Tim

[Jeff Johnson @ Feb 27th 2007 9:55AM]

I got an awesome deal at Satellitediscountstore.com on my Iridium phone. The service was great and they really helped me find the correct phone that I needed the Iridium 9505A. I wanted something that would work, not something that has a 50 percent chance of working. Thanks again Satellitediscountstore.com
Contact Doug @ 1-877-203-8774 he assisted me.

[Satellite Phone @ Aug 28th 2007 11:12PM]

The globalstar service is phenomenal for US and the Caribbean.
http://www.highspeedsat.com/gsp1700.htm
Other than that, I would recommend the Iridium phones. http://www.highspeedsat.com/iridium-phone.htm
Yes, the GSP-1700 is a new, sleek satellite phone, (I just tested one and did not see anything about the EV-DO on the phone) and I am sure it will go over very well. http://www.highspeedsat.com

[gale @ Feb 27th 2008 6:14PM]

Do not go with Globalstar, they Suck, there satellites are going down, you do not get any coverage. I traded my Globalstar phone in for an Iridium Phone. I got my Iridium phone form www.ocens.com They are great, perfect customer service, alwyas there for you and the phone works great. I have never had a problem with Iridium, yes Iridium may be a bit more $$ wise, but when you are out to sea who can put a price on communication? Thanks OCENS!!

[Winston @ Oct 9th 2008 6:50AM]

Actually, a good idea might be looking for a Thuraya phone. Have a look at this map: Thuraya satellite phone coverage is getting better, so if you need a satphone in Europe, Asia, Australia o Africa - it probably will be the best choice at the moment.

[Winston @ Oct 9th 2008 6:53AM]

Oops, the map didn't go through. This is the current Thuraya coverage map: http://www.satellitephonefaq.com/thuraya/network/coverage-2008/