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Microcap & Penny Stocks : Globalstar Telecommunications Limited GSAT -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: A.J. Mullen who wrote (25270)	10/9/2002 7:35:57 PM
From: Jon Koplik	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 29987

If G* phones still allow incoming text messages, then most people would probably use that to send the equivalent of "Call me !" (It only requires an out-going e-mail, instead of an out-going (toll) long distance phone call). When I had my G* phone, I think one may have needed to have voicemail in order to be able to receive text messages. But, maybe this has changed by now (?) Jon.

To: A.J. Mullen who wrote (25270)	10/9/2002 7:49:32 PM
From: A.J. Mullen	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 29987

Sometime ago I questioned the utility of sat phones as emergency communication devices in small airplanes. Someone said it was a no-brainer. I can't refrain from commenting that, judging by the up-take rate, there aren't many no-brained pilots. Here's an article about men who did have an Iridium phone on board when they ditched in the Pacific on the way to HAwaii. equipped.org The phone was never used. It was abandoned with the plane. Ray also had an Iridium satellite phone with him, as back-up, but years of experience had taught him that a call on 121.5 MHz would likely do the job and that was far easier and quicker. Given that they had the phone, they should have taken it - protected against the water. A handheld aviation radio would have made the rescue easier still. The radios are much cheaper, with no subscription fees, and they're smaller. Ashley

To: A.J. Mullen who wrote (25270)	10/9/2002 8:42:41 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 29987

Ashley, I think the service will continue, but ownership of the assets will change hands because the creditors now own it [once bankruptcy proceedings are finally and belatedly completed]. It is simply amazing to me that years have gone by with bloody-mindedness obviously stopping restructuring and getting back into gear. The assets are depreciating rapidly at $$hundreds of millions per year, while the opportunity cost is $1 billion per year for this constellation alone [10 billion minutes x 20c per minute when fully loaded and 10c a minute to load it up]. I think the handsets are robust enough. I've never heard anything to say they are too fragile for normal use, though PCSTEL thought they needed to be DeWalted [= made tough and yellow]. dewalt.com Carting a phone with a flat battery for a couple of weeks wouldn't be fun. Battery life isn't good for out in the bush. Maybe such things as portable methanol-powered rechargers exist? I doubt it. With restructuring, I suppose there'll be more sensibly priced plans, though I think current management is wedded to the high-priced minimal use idea. I don't think prices will go up. Mqurice