R290, I Bought It

[AndreA]

Finally I have a satellite handset, too

Any news about a good prepaid offer about Globalstar network?

[Przemolog]

Originally Posted by AndreA

Finally I have a satellite handset, too

Any news about a good prepaid offer about Globalstar network?

How much was it?

[AndreA]

200?, delivered and brand new

It's a pity that i can use it only with a Wind postpaid.... Wind wrote that satellite roaming was able for prepaid customers too, but this was false

[AdmiralAK]

That is a big phone :blink:

I would love one of those Thuraya + triband GSM phones that were just released (or announced) - then you can use prepaid GSM, or prepaid thuraya (too bad you cannot use prepaid iridium as well :P)

[AndreA]

Originally Posted by AdmiralAK

That is a big phone :blink:

Not so much... also I have it in my car for emergency, not so important if it is big

[DRNewcomb]

Well, O2 UK is supposed to work with Thuraya. I don't see anything about Globalstar. Elsacom offers Globalstar service in Europe and has prepaid plans. Have you tested a Vodafone (IT) SIM?

[AndreA]

yes, i tested 2 postpaid sim cards... a Wind and a Vodafone IT. It's a pity that i can't use prepaids... I'll test Tim prepaid... maybe it will go

[Przemolog]

Originally Posted by AdmiralAK

That is a big phone :blink:

I would love one of those Thuraya + triband GSM phones that were just released (or announced) - then you can use prepaid GSM, or prepaid thuraya (too bad you cannot use prepaid iridium as well :P)

Thuraya + triband GSM sounds great but a little strange as well. Thuraya phones aren't that big as for satphones but... In areas of GSM 1900 Thuraya has no coverage so it doesn't make sense to carry the satellite part there

For coverage reasons Iridium + quad band GSM would be the best

Somehow OT, a few weeks ago I read on one of Polish GSM portals about Blueberry quadband GSM + iDEN - also not bad.

[DRNewcomb]

Originally Posted by Przemolog

For coverage reasons Iridium + quad band GSM would be the best

For some reason, I'm not impressed by the combination of cellular and satellite in a single handset. It didn't go over well in the original Iridium phones. I don't think anyone is going to lug a ~1kg handset around town when he can just pop the SIM into a GSM phone the size of a snuff box.

For my part, I'd be happy if Iridium just reopened GSM roaming for those of us who own a handset but have little need to keep an account active. At the same time I understand how Iridium would see no advantage in doing this, since many people who do keep accounts just for emergencies would drop them and fall back to roaming.

[Przemolog]

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

For some reason, I'm not impressed by the combination of cellular and satellite in a single handset. It didn't go over well in the original Iridium phones. I don't think anyone is going to lug a ~1kg handset around town when he can just pop the SIM into a GSM phone the size of a snuff box.

Don't exaggerate! Eg. Thuraya Huges 7101 with GSM 900 weighs 220 grams. Adding another GSM bands will "cost" a few grams more in the worst case . Some smartphones and palmphones have similar weight and people buy and carry them.

Originally Posted by DRNewcomb

For my part, I'd be happy if Iridium just reopened GSM roaming for those of us who own a handset but have little need to keep an account active. At the same time I understand how Iridium would see no advantage in doing this, since many people who do keep accounts just for emergencies would drop them and fall back to roaming.

oster_oops: I forgot that now Iridium has no roamings (except for Orange Israel AFAIK) so combining it with GSM any other system in a single handset really makes no sense.