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Satnews Daily
May 7th, 2014

Globalstar's SPOT Satellite Devices...When Folks Are Left To Their Own Devices... SPOT To The Rescue Of 3,000 Lives (SATCOM)


[SatNews] "Lifesaving rescues around the globe are now a daily occurrence for our Company's products..."

SPOT LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., (NYSE MKT:GSAT) and the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, announced today that its SPOT products have been used to initiate 3,000 rescues around the world since the technology's launch in 2007. With over 200,000 SPOT units in service, there are now an average of a rescue a day.  SPOT delivers affordable and reliable satellite-based connectivity and real-time GPS tracking, completely independent of cellular coverage.

"Lifesaving rescues around the globe are now a daily occurrence for our SPOT products. SPOT is an absolute must for the outdoor recreation market and aviation, as well as an essential government and enterprise solution," said Jay Monroe, CEO and Chairman of Globalstar. "With 3,000 confirmed rescues, saving lives continuously drives us to innovate, creating affordable satellite communications solutions that reach a market well beyond traditional mobile satellite users, including millions of people globally. We would like to thank GEOS and the search and rescue teams across the world that put it on the line every day."


(From Left to Right) SPOT Connect, SPOT Global Phone, SPOT Gen3 Satellite Messenger, SPOT Trace, SPOT Gen2 Satellite Messenger.

SPOT products offer users peace of mind by allowing them to track their assets, utilize location-based messaging and emergency notification technology and to make calls beyond the boundaries of cellular. SPOT products work around the world, including virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia, portions of South America, Northern Africa, North-Eastern Asia and thousands of miles offshore of these areas. Over the past seven years, boaters, hunters, recreational pilots, hikers, off-road travelers and outdoor enthusiasts have come to depend on the lifesaving capabilities of SPOT.

The 3,000th rescue recently occurred in the Hayman Fire area of Central Colorado. Two avid dirt bikers were outside of cell range when an accident occurred. One of the riders, Kevin, activated the SOS button on his SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger™. The GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center was alerted and coordinated the rescue with local law enforcement. "SPOT worked really well. Without it, getting out would have been more difficult and time consuming and who knows what could have happened in that time. There were a lot of different variables involved," said Kevin.

SPOT continues to innovate with products and services that deliver peace of mind, reliable connectivity and accurate GPS tracking solutions that are relevant to millions of users around the world, such as:

  • SPOT Gen3™, rugged and affordable device providing off-the-grid messaging, emergency alerts, extended battery life, and extreme GPS tracking at 2 1/2 minute intervals.
  • SPOT Global Phone, most affordable satellite phone available in retail ($499), allowing users to make calls virtually ANYWHERE beyond the boundaries of cellular.  
  • SPOT Trace™, GPS tracking device using 100 percent satellite technology to track anything, anytime, anywhere. Never lose sight of your car, boat,  motorcycle, ATV or other valuable gear - perfect for anyone who has something worth protecting.  
  • The SPOT App, convenient web-based interface allowing users to easily view their SPOT messages, show their track points and monitor their assets via smartphone or tablet.

The ability to send SOS notifications to GEOS and emergency dispatch services are included in the SPOT Basic Service plan. Additionally, SPOT offers the GEOS Member Rescue Benefit, for as low as $1.99 a month on an annual basis, which covers additional expenses associated with search and rescue efforts. The IERCC is staffed 24/7 with dedicated and highly trained operatives who have access to emergency responders worldwide, to ensure timely and efficient response to each emergency situation.

For more information on SPOT including a list of retailers, visit FindMeSPOT.com.

SPOT LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., provides affordable satellite communication and tracking devices for recreational use. SPOT Global Phone uses the Globalstar network to transmit two-way voice and data communications. SPOT messaging devices use both the GPS satellite network and the Globalstar network to transmit text messages and GPS coordinates. Since 2007, SPOT has provided peace of mind by allowing customers to remain in contact completely independent of cellular coverage, having initiated over 3,000 rescues worldwide.