Buy Globalstar GSP-1700 Satellite Phone - SilverGlobalstar GSP-1700 Satellite Phone - Silver Product Description:
- Battery Type Lithium Ion
- Weight (oz) 7.05
Product Description
GSP-1700 Mobile Satellite PhoneThe portable GSP-1700 is the smallest and lightest satellite phone from Globalstar, that increases the efficiency and profitability of companies, and the well-being of individuals and entire communities. The Globalstar GSP-1700 communicates via satellite providing the best voice quality and the fastest handheld data speeds in mobile satellite today.Companies can affordably and productively manage their business directly from the remote worksite instead of spending costly travel time to reach areas that are covered by cellular service. Call suppliers and business partners to arrange shipments and provide updates from the field or use the Globalstar Data Kit (available separately) to send key information via email or Internet to the head office.Loaded with Features Compact and light weight. Weighing only 7 oz. the GSP-1700 packs easy for traveling Rings while antenna is stowed: Receive calls even when the antenna is down Long-life battery: 4 hours of talk time, 36 hours on standby mode Optimized for outside daytime viewing: Backlit color display with 4-line 12-character LCD Illuminated keypad: Easy to see keypad when lighting is inadequateBenefits: Coverage far beyond cellular range: Improve productivity and safety when working, traveling or visiting remote areas CDMA technology for optimal voice clarity Price Plan options tailored to your calling needs, including monthly or annual plans for seasonal users Global roaming: Use the GSP-1700 in 120 countries worldwide Integrates with optional GSP-1700 Portable Docking Kit, or GIK-1700 Vehicle/Marine kit Optional weather proof enclosure for external antenna also available for use in salt water environmentsCalling Features Comes standard
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful.
Fantastic phone, service getting better each month!
By A. Mahn
First of all, the GSP-1700 is one of the most affordable satellite phones on the market. Manufactured by Qualcomm, it has a full fledged address book, location service, and ability to receive SMS messages and short e-mails. The service is only $20 a month for unlimited calling from North America to North America, and prices are what you would expect when in or calling to other countries. The overall size of this phone is fairly compact and doesn't weigh much more than say an iPhone 4. It's definitely much smaller than the older GSP-1600 phone and lighter, too.It supports a data connection via USB through an optional (but sadly, proprietary) USB cable. Data rates are acceptable, and the data service is included in the $20/month plan. Overall, the accessories are a bit expensive as with Iridium and Thuraya products, but I'm happy to support Globalstar.So, the catch to a cheap phone and unbelievably cheap service? Globalstar's first generation satellites have begun to fail and Globalstar is around half way complete in launching the second generation system. For most people in North America, this means a typical call time is about an average of 15 minutes, with the maximum being 45 minutes (or sometimes longer in some cases) before the call is dropped. Once the launches are complete, the service will return to the same great reliability they were known for in the late nineties. As my dealer put it, Globalstar is looking to become "the WalMart of satellite communications." Service area is most of the world with the exception of southern Africa and the poles.Service quality, when connected, is amazing. There is no detectable lag or delay as Globalstar uses a bent pipe system, in that what gets sent to the satellite gets routed to a ground station without going through additional satellites. The call quality is compressed minimally, and to me sounds far better than a cell phone and just as good as most landlines!I highly reccomend investing in both a GSP-1700 now (they come in three colors!) and a 1-year service contract. I suspect that the price will remain at or around $20, but wouldn't be surprised as the reliability increases that the price will too. So grab a year of service now and lock in this amazing deal. This is a priceless and valuable tool to have if you travel out of the range of cell service. In the case of a natural disaster, this will continue to function beautifully even after cell phone towers are jammed, destroyed, or turned off such as in the case of Hurricane Katrina.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
Good so far...
By Tampa Buyer
UPDATE: Still working well and I ordered the data cable. It was easy to configure using Ubuntu 12.04 using gnome-ppp. I set the baud rate to 38K, the number to #777, did a dmesg to get the device name, chopped the FCLASS command off the init string. Went outside, and started using sudo from the command line and - connected perfectly. The data rate was a little less than 9600 baud as expected. Still definitely better than no internet at all in an emergency or in the wilderness.I've only had mine a couple weeks but my initial impression is good.Be sure to check out the "Globalstar call times tool" on their website. Their service has indeed improved from "horrendous" to "barely tolerable", a big improvement. At one time the phone only worked a few minutes each hour. Now across most of the US its more like 45 minutes or so with their recent launch of satellites by the Russians.When I first got the phone it was immediately a warm and fuzzy feeling of back to the stone-age. Because it looks and works like a cell phone from 10 years ago. That was kind of a disappointment because the user interface is so clunky and dated.Once you get past that and extend the giant antenna, it picks up a signal in a couple minutes (assuming its not too cloudy and you are in your calling time window and are standing in an open field with the antenna pointing straight up).That is when the phone really shines. Crystal clear and NO LATENCY like a "normal" satellite phone. The low earth orbit is the reason why. With a regular satellite phone there is a huge delay and its more like a walkie talkie. With globalstar the people I called thought I was on a regular cell phone.Other negatives are overpriced accessories like a spare battery or data cable. Hopefully the Chinese will step up to the plate and make some cheap clones.A bit pricey if you count the price and one year at $39.95 I am into this about $900. And expect them to raise the rate again in a year if they continue to launch satellites and improve the service.But I like to go backpacking in wilderness and its worth it for my piece of mind.Besides the clunky interface Globalstar is also a little stone-age. I had to fax in a spreadsheet to activate the account, then pester the customer service email address to find out when it was active. Sheesh you'd think if they could launch a satellite they could launch a few web pages and let you register online.You can tell if your dealer is a crook (like mine) because they never bother to mention that Globalstar only works some of the time. Fortunately I already knew that. Honest dealers are supposed to tell you in advance.But I'm giving it 4 stars for now because its working as well as expected.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful.GOOD PRODUCT BUT NO HINT OF HOW TO OBTAIN SERVICE
By Ray L.
GREAT BACKUP TO CELLPHONE SERVICE IF YOU LIVE IN OR TRAVEL TO AREAS WITH NO SIGNAL STRENGTH FOE YOUR CELL.GETTING SERVICE WAS AN ADVENTURE BUT CAN BE DONE IF YOU KEEP TRYING.HINT: GLOBALSTAR.COM.
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