Globalstar LP is a low earth orbit [LEO] satellite system providing high quality gap-free cellphone service other than at the poles [70deg N to 70 deg S]. There are 48 satellites plus 8 spares in the initial constellation. It orbits at 1414 km, which means no voice delay. The satellites should last 10 years [planned for 7, but they are performing well].
Here is where subscribers are discussing their experiences with their Globalstar phones:
siliconinvestor.com
Globalstar Telecommunications Limited, GSTRF, a holding company, owns about 40% of Globalstar LP. Don't get the two confused or you'll make a lot less money than you think! By that I mean, GSTRF owns only 40% of LP so GSTRF will receive only 40% of the income. Here is some explanation:
Message 13425149
Handsets are supplied by Qualcomm, creator of mobile CDMA, Telit and L M Ericsson.
There is already a second constellation being planned.
Competition in the form of Iridium and ICO, came and went, though ICO is still battling to survive, most likely in a data form.
You can read the old Silicon Investor discussion about Globalstar and competitors here:
Subject 3190
Globalstar's home page here:
globalstar.com
GlobalstarUSA here:
globalstarusa.com
See post number 1 for a list of other urls which will give you enough to read for a month, or two [some of the links are dead now, sorry]. Here's the Yahoo! discussion: messages.yahoo.com.
The April2000 share price reflects the current rollout delays and worries about just WHEN the gateways will be operational, coverage will be complete and 1 million handsets will have sold. I wrote the following in the original October 1997 lead introduction [now updated, 20 April 2000] and plenty went wrong:
<The money has been raised. The technology is established in terrestrial applications. The first launch is coming up and nothing can go wrong can go wrong can go wrong........>
Something did go wrong! Zenit crashed. There was a two year delay. Then a slow rollout. There are 10bn minutes per year rotting in space and pricing those minutes to drive rapid and fanatical consumption of them is the key to success. 10bn minutes is the approximate system capacity, depending on the spread of demand. |
