Today's Globalstar USA Press Release features quote from our own Jim Parkinson! (move over Ramsey Su!)
globalstarusa.com
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Toni Carinci
925/274-4966 or 925/997-6225 (cell)
toni.carinci@globalstarusa.com
Donna Berry
415/974-6200 or 415/652-6774 (cell)
dberry@gcigroup.com
GLOBALSTAR USA LAUNCHES FULL COMMERCIAL
AVAILABILITY OF MOBILE SATELLITE PHONE
SERVICE
Voice Coverage Now Reaches Everywhere in the United States, Canada and
Mexico
February 28, 2000 (CTIA Wireless 2000, New Orleans ) - Globalstar USA
today announced the full commercial availability of its mobile satellite service
in the United States, providing seamless voice service coast-to-coast, with
International roaming to begin next month. Globalstar USA is a subsidiary of
Vodafone Airtouch Plc.
"Reliable, affordable, high quality mobile satellite communications are now
available to the public across the United States," said Mike Kerr, general
manager and vice president of Globalstar USA. "Our full commercial service
launch is the culmination of our phased roll-out strategy, which included a
series of highly successful user trials, ensuring that our system is tested
and secure while offering superior voice quality."
Why Satellite Communication Services?
More than half of the continental United States is not covered by any
wireless system. Globalstar's satellite phone products and service are
designed to meet the needs of individuals who regularly find themselves in
areas where cellular and landline coverage is unavailable. Typically, these
individuals work in industries with operations in remote locations, such as
utilities, oil and gas, mining, forestry, construction, maritime and the military
- industries that will be Globalstar USA's initial targets for the service.
Globalstar USA will penetrate these markets by aligning with distributors
who currently serve these and other segments.
Complete North American Coverage
Globalstar service is available throughout the North American continent,
including Canada and Mexico. Globalstar Canada Satellite Co., the provider
of Globalstar service in Canada, also announced commercial service today.
Globalstar de Mexico, Globalstar's service provider in Mexico, and is already
offering commercial service.
"Introduction of service in these three North American countries is a
crowning moment for the Globalstar worldwide consortium," said Anthony
Navarra, president of Globalstar L.P. "We congratulate Globalstar USA,
Globalstar Canada Satellite Co. and Globalstar de Mexico on this
tremendous accomplishment."
One Phone for Global Roaming
Globalstar USA also announced its international roaming prices at a base
price of $1.79 per minute plus international charges. This pricing applies to
Globalstar USA customers who travel outside the United States. Currently,
roaming is available throughout Canada and Mexico. Outside of North
America, roaming will begin on a region-by-region basis starting in March,
with Brazil and continental Europe.
Globalstar USA's Satellite Phone Products Designed by Qualcomm
The Globalstar tri-mode phone is a portable handheld unit that operates in
satellite mode, but also in digital and analog cellular modes, wherever
cellular service is available. The handset can easily be switched from mode
to mode. The Globalstar handheld phone weighs slightly more than 11
ounces, with a suggested retail price of $1,500.
The hands-free car kit is designed for use in conjunction with the Globalstar
tri-mode portable phone. This unit, which retails for $999, is especially useful
in industries such as mining, farming, aviation, maritime, and search and
rescue.
The fixed satellite phone, which can be mounted on a wall or placed on a
table or desk, is designed for use in rural or remote areas where population
densities cannot justify the deployment cost of conventional landline or
terrestrial-based wireless networks. The fixed phone will cost approximately
$2,499.
Voicemail will be available to customers in March. Data capabilities at 9.6
kbps including e-mail, fax and file transfer, as well as short message service
(SMS), will be available later in 2000.
"Cellular coverage alone has simply been unable to meet my demands for
seamless voice communications," said Globalstar USA customer Jim
Parkinson of Sandpiper Restaurants. "With Globastar USA, I now have the
ability to stay in touch no matter where I travel in the U.S, Canada, and
Mexico, and maintain a competitive edge."
Globalstar USA Domestic Pricing Plan
Globalstar USA offers three distinct domestic pricing plans based on a
monthly service charge and fees for satellite connection and use. The
Beyond Basic plan is $29.99 per month plus $1.69 per minute for satellite
airtime. The Beyond 100 plan is $169.99 per month and includes 100
minutes of satellite airtime; additional minutes are $1.49. The Beyond 250
plan is $369.99 and includes 250 minutes of satellite airtime; additional
minutes are $1.39.
These prices, which will be offered by Globalstar USA's agents, do not
include international long distance charges. Globalstar USA's resellers will
set prices according to individual market conditions.
The Globalstar Advantage
The Globalstar 48 low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation and
land-based gateways are designed to provide service to more than 85
percent of the world's populated areas.
The Globalstar system exclusively uses Code Divisional Multiple Access
(CDMA) communication transmission technology. CDMA provides greater
call capacity on the network, enhanced security and superior voice quality.
The Globalstar satellite system utilizes a "bent-pipe" architecture, in which
each call goes up to the nearest satellite. The satellite acts like a mirror to
bounce the signal back to the nearest gateway. Finally, the signal is routed
into the landline system. This architecture allows calls to travel primarily via
established terrestrial infrastructure instead of being passed
satellite-to-satellite, which improves call quality and minimizes the chances
of dropped calls.
Availability
Individuals and businesses can purchase a Globalstar phone and service
through Globalstar USA's distributors located throughout the United States.
A list of dealers can be found by calling Globalstar USA at
1-877-SATPHONE (877-728-7466), or by visiting Globalstar USA's web site
at www.globalstarusa.com.
About Globalstar USA
Globalstar USA (GUSA), an indirect Vodafone AirTouch Plc. subsidiary, has
exclusive rights to sell Globalstar satellite service in the United States and is
responsible for building the satellite gateways, interconnecting with the
public phone network, development and management of billing and customer
care systems, sales, product distribution and marketing. For more
information visit Globalstar USA's website at www.globalstarusa.com.
About Globalstar
Globalstar service is already available in 21 countries. Globalstar is planning
to introduce service in over 80 countries by mid-year. Globalstar has
announced that one of its founding service partners, TE.SA.M.
(T‚l‚communications par Satellites Mobiles), on February 18 officially
opened the newest Globalstar gateway in Los Velasquez, Venezuela,
bringing the total number of fully operational gateways to 13.
Globalstar L.P., led by founding partner Loral Space & Communications, is a
partnership of the world's leading telecommunications service providers and
equipment manufacturers, including Qualcomm Incorporated, Alcatel,
Alenia, China Telecom (HK), DACOM, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, Elsacom
(a Finmeccanica company), France Telecom, Hyundai, Space
Systems/Loral and Vodafone AirTouch Plc. For more information, visit
Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.com.
About Vodafone AirTouch Plc.
Vodafone AirTouch Plc. is the world's largest wireless communications firm,
based in the United Kingdom. "Vodafone AirTouch" has mobile operations in
24 countries on five continents, with more than 35.5 million proportionate
cellular customers.
Parent company Vodafone AirTouch, through its subsidiaries and joint
ventures, is the service provider for Globalstar in a total of 15 countries
across North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa. Vodafone AirTouch has
an approximate eight-percent holding in the Globalstar Limited Partnership.
For more information on Vodafone AirTouch Plc., visit
www.vodafone_airtouch_plc.com. |
