I have had Globalstar service for about 3 years now, and I value it highly. I bought my phone (back when they were $1500) from North Shore Systems Group, which may be found at http://www.satphone-solutions.com.

It's tough to write a review of this service for just one metropolitan area, as my experience is that it just works, no matter where I happen to travel.

Most of the time, you'll probably be using the terrestrial digital or analog cellular service on the Globalstar phone, unless you're well out of a coverage area.

The Globalstar sets do work on the traditional analog (AMPS) cellular network, so you can almost always dial 911 without having to use the satellite service.

I have compared this service to Iridium, and I find the Globalstar service to be far superior in terms of audio quality. Iridium made the person on the other end of the call sound as if they were underwater. At the time I tried it (1999), it was also far superior in terms of price, as Iridium was still attempting to charge $7/minute, while Globalstar was $1.69. Globalstar is certainly competitive with many GSM international roaming rates.

If you sign up for the plans with more bundled minutes, the per-minute cost can go below $1. The good news is that if you just want it to be there for emergencies, they have monthly plans around $20. Since you'll probably be using the cell service more often, this is a pretty economical way to have coverage anywhere.

Globalstar's telephone customer service people are unparalleled. They are the most pleasant, deliberate, and conscientious people with whom I've ever spoken in a customer service context. They may put you on hold for a while when looking for information, but I have never found them to be contradictory.

I have found the local resellers to be less efficient than Globalstar's own folks. If you have a service problem, you may be better off working directly with the Globalstar people than your local reseller.

I recently took this phone to the Bahamas, and found it to work fairly well from a mostly-obstructed hotel patio. I could get about 15 minutes worth of calls done before I lost coverage. This is pretty good, considering that you're supposed to use this from a location with a clear view of the sky.

The other aspect that is a little different from traditional terrestrial service is the performance while driving. The satellite service does require a clear view of the sky. Driving under overpasses will cause a momentary dropout of audio. I have never found it to cause a call to drop.

Out in Western Loudoun County in Virginia, the Globalstar service is far more reliable than cellular service, AMPS or digital. If you have need of a service out in the boondocks, this might be the one for you.

In closing, it should be noted that Globalstar also makes mounting kits for boats. As a personal safety device, I find it invaluable.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $20/month