Choosing the right satellite phone is most often dependent on where you plan on using the phone and for what purpose. Equipment costs, service plans, and coverage areas vary greatly between the satellite networks.

UUPlus supports a number of Satellite Phone systems. These systems include Iridium, INMARSAT, Thuraya, ACeS, Mobile Satellite Ventures (formerly Motient) and Globalstar.

The Iridium phone connects to the Iridium network, a constellation of 66 satellites in a low earth polar orbit. The Iridium phone is the size of an older handheld cell phone. It comes with a small omni-directional antenna which does not require focusing like the mini-m's antenna but is not as powerful either. This results in a higher drop off rate than the Mini-M phone. However the Iridium phone is portable and less expensive both in terms of equipment and per minute costs. The Iridium phone however does have a monthly service fee whereas the Mini-M does not. The Iridium phone connects at 2400 baud and under laboratory test has a slightly higher throughput speed. The Iridium phone bills in a 60 second minimum and in 20 second increments after that.

Iridium did have a number of problems after its initial startup and eventually went bankrupt. It has since recovered and is now profitable.

Iridium does offer a free "Direct Data Service" which allows customers to dial directly into open gateway servers using specialized software. This service utilizes transparent compression, resulting in a data rate of up to 10 Kbps, depending on content. (Graphics and images will result in lower throughput).

While UUPlus does not do web access it is about two times faster than the Apollo software in downloading mail and files. The 10Kbps is a little confusing, as Iridium seems to indicate that the bandwidth is greater using their Direct Data Service when it is not. You will only get 10Kbps when downloading very compressible files.
http://www.iridium.com
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The Mini-M is a consumer satellite phone service for the Inmarsat system. Companies such as French Telcom, Stratos, and Telenor sell the service. The Inmarsat system operates a constellation of five geostationary satellites that provides global (with the exception of the poles)phone, data, and fax communication.

The Mini-M has a directional antenna and only needs line of sight to the geostationary satellite. It does not need a large view of unobstructed sky. This means the phone is capable of being operated through a window within a building or through a hole in the forest canopy.
http://www.inmarsat.com

Thuraya Satellite Phones

Thuraya provides coverage to 99 countries in Europe, the Middle East, North and Central Africa, the CIS countries and South Asia.

Designed for a lifespan of 12 to 15 years, Thuraya's satellite is in geo-synchronous orbit, positioned 36,000 kms above the earth, at 44 degrees east above the equator. The Thuraya system includes a second satellite that will be launched in early 2003 while a third satellite is contracted to Boeing Satellite Systems to expand system capacity.

The Primary Gateway in Sharjah, UAE, serves the entire Thuraya coverage area, and plans are underway to establish additional national gateways at other locations as necessary.
http://www.thuraya.com
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ACeS Satellite Network

ACeS (ASIA Cellular Satellite) is a regional geo-mobile satellite system that provides telecommunications via a small, handheld, mobile user terminal, as well as fixed user terminals.

ACeS officially launched its service in Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. Currently ACeS has signed 49 international roaming agreements with GSM operators in 5 continents.

ACeS covers an area of over 11 million square miles extending from Pakistan and India in the west, to the Philippines and Papua New Guinea in the east, and from Japan and China in the north down to Indonesia in the south.
http://www.acesinternational.com

Mobile Satellite Ventures (formerly Motient)

The Motient Satellite system uses a geo-synchronous satellite to provide a dedicated communications network from Northern Canada to Panama and several hundred miles offshore of the Continental U.S.

Normally the phone is set to connect with a 4800 baud rate. Check with your service provider to determine what baud rate your phone is set to. UUPlus recommends first trying to connect at 4800. If that does not work, contact Motient to change your phone to the 2400 baud rate.
http://www.msvlp.com

Globalstar is supported in over 120 countries. Data coverage generally covers North America, North Atlantic and Caribbean waters. The Globalstar is less expensive to purchase and operate than the Iridium and Inmarsat phones. However, it is limited in coverage. The Globalstar phone connects at 9600 baud and experiences speeds similar to the Thuraya phone.

If you plan on staying within North America and Caribbean waters, the Globalstar phone is an excellent choice for voice and data. However, the phone won't be much help outside its coverage area. http://www.globalstar.com
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