The IsatPhone 2 is the current state-of-the-art handheld Inmarsat satellite phone. A high visibility screen assures easy readability even in direct sunlight. Make calls, send SMS messages and access the internet at up to 2.4 kbps with nearly global coverage excluding the polar caps (see map below).
Special features include a S.O.S. button that transmits your GPS position to a list of text or email addresses and if desired initiates a phone call to a preset emergency number -- all at the touch of a button. Other key features include:
* The IsatPhone 2 satellite phone offers 2400 bps circuit-switched data (best case), and is suitable for light email applications but not web browsing.
** Mountainous terrain and other vertical obstructions such as tall trees or buildings can block the Inmarsat satellite signal. We do not recommend the IsatPhone 2, even within its formal coverage area, as shown above, for mountainous areas where terrain masking can easily occur.As a rule of thumb, the Inmarsat satellite is relatively low on the horizon north of 50° N latitude or south of 50° S latitude, which increases the chances of terrain masking problems.