<< This means, as I understand it, that you can only reliably get a signal if you're outdoors and away from buildings or other objects that would block the phone's ability to "see" a satellite. Is this no longer true? If not, then are folks really going to want to "step out" for a call? >>
I apologize for missing one key point that would have answered this too common misconception.
All GlobalStar phones will be dual mode phones, meaning they will work as both GlobalStar and cellular. Here's the point: The default mode will be cellular. The satellite is in addition to, not instead of cellular service.
You will choose either CDMA or GSM depending on where you are most of the time. Qualcomm's will be CDMA. Ericsson's will be GSM. I forget the name of the third provider, but I believe they will be making GSM compatible phones. Details on GlobalStar's web page. globalstar.com
So, assuming you are in an area with cellular service, the GlobalStar phone will act like an ordinary terrestrial cellular phone. The GlobalStar circuits will only kick in when you are out of reach of the local cellular system or if the local cellular service is incompatible with your GlobalStar phone's cellular component.
As to your specific question, if you are so deep inside a building that the cellular service will not work, the odds are that GlobalStar will not either. But if a cellular phone will work when standing by a window, so will the GlobalStar phone -- in cellular mode. So, the ability to communicate will either be the same as (cellular works or nothing works) or better than (cellular does not work and GlobalStar does work) cellular. In no situation are you worse off with a GlobaStar phone.
I make no promises for consistent service at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, but GlobalStar should work fine pretty much anywhere where you can see a good chunk of sky.
By the way, depending on what they do in the building, even standing by a window may not help. One of my company's electronic security clients is General Instruments, the company that probably managed your cable box. There is so much RF generated in their buildings that I need to get about 100 yards from the building before my alphanumeric pager or Comcast TDMA handset work at all. |
