I have one and very happy with it, paid about that and got $100 credit and the run costs are $1 a minute. The only problem I have found to date is I cant ring prepaid mobiles, they may have a firmware upgradse that has fixed that by now. cheers blaze
Hi ZJ, Have you tried the federal government's assistance yet? If you are going to spend 50% of your time in remote areas of Australia, you may be entitled to a subsidy. I have one and it cost me $795.00 and I received an 85% rebate. I put $200 worth of air time on it and it sits there for 2 years unless I use it beforehand.
Yesterday I picked up my Satellite Phone from TC Communications after it was kindly donated to the Grey Nomad Website as the first place prize for the recent "Red" Photo competition. A really big thank you Cindy, TC Communications and everyone that voted for me.
I went to Auburn (Sydney) to collect the phone as they offered to show me how to use it and to say that the people there were fabulous is an understatement. Diana Minglis and Mark Nowakowski are a credit to their employer.
I did not know a lot about Satellite phones and thought that they would actually be a little bit expensive for me, BUT, now I have been suitably educated in them I would suggest people really think about getting one if they are travelling into areas that may not receive phone reception and where you are a little concerned and may need emergency assistance in remote areas.
The phone is valued at $599 which is on a par with an EPIRB, sometimes cheaper.
Now, the BEST thing about the phone which I did not know, is that there are NO ONGOING costs like a normal mobile phone. So, no monthly fees...Bloody bonus !!!!!
They gave me 25 prepaid units (minutes) for free and I also purchased another 25 minutes which cost me an extra $22.65. Now, these prepaid units last for 2 years, yes, 2 YEARS !! Unlike mobile phones which run out in a month or so.
I can use this phone Anywhere in the world (except the USA as you are not allowed prepaid there, but can get post paid). All you have to do is be able to see the sky and lift up the antenna and off you go !!
I believe this to be far more beneficial than an EPIRB as EPIRB's can only be used in an emergency and I don't think emergency services would appreciate travelling out into the bush if you had a flat tyre !! But with the SatPhone, you could just ring someone instead of emergency services.
Now there is a downside and that is that people ringing you could be charged up to $25 a minute from a telstra landline (That is Telstra's Fault, not the Satphone). However, there is a solution to this and that is if someone wants to contact you, they can either sms you (normal cost) email you with a special satphone email address, or go to TC Communications website and send you a FREE sms so you can then ring them to save them paying big costs on a phone call.
Your cost will only be 0.70c a minute from ANYWHERE in the world, or 0.90c a minute to a mobile phone. Now, that is fantastic !!
If you are thinking of getting a Satphone, please think about using the SPonsor of the Website as they are well worth it, I assure you. If you do happen to ring them to purchase, I would suggest you mention the Website (and me) so they know that there sponsorship is working. I just think that we should appreciate good service and use it when we can.
