Top 4 Mistakes To Avoid When Getting A Satellite Phone

Once you have identified the need to own a satellite phone whether for personal reasons, philanthropic ones or commercial gains you also need to be cautious about the phone you select. Buying or renting a satellite phone requires you to spend some amount of time researching the various options available. This is the only way to ensure that you buy what you really need and want rather than what the salesperson wanted to sell you. Here are some things to keep in mind when getting a satellite phone. 1. Buying or renting? You need to decide whether you want to buy the satellite phone and service outright or renting will suffice. Generally, for one time or infrequent users, renting is a cheaper and better option. However, for industries such as aviation, oil and gas, mining, transportation, government and military and maritime the only choice is to buy. Don't let the salesperson push you into a decision. Evaluate the factors involved in renting Vs buying a satellite phone and then choose. 2. Don't confuse GSM with satellite phones Some people may try to convince you that your requirements will be fulfilled equally well with a GSM or Global System for Mobile Communications phone. That may be true. A GSM phone generally offers roaming worldwide and is used by most global travelers. However, GSM technology does not use satellites. Satellite phones work even when the infrastructure is damaged or unavailable. GSM phones are dependent on Earth based infrastructure and landlines. Hence, in hard to reach areas and in times of natural disasters, a GSM phone may stop working. Your satellite phone won't. 3. Check non coverage zones beforehand While most satellite companies offer extensive coverage and even global coverage including airways, oceans and the polar regions there are some zones that are blocked from the network. North Srilanka, Poland and North Korea are some of the counties that are not covered by many satellite phone companies. Also, different plans offer coverage in different zones. So before you buy a plan or a package that includes a bundled plan, check if the zones you intend to visit are included or not. 4. Evaluate the cost of the satellite phone, accessories and package When buying the satellite phone don't just look at the cost of the phone. While latest models cost about $1500, a slightly older model can come much cheaper at $1000. In addition to the phone itself you will need to invest in satellite phone accessories like chargers, extra batteries and protective cases. You will obviously also need to buy airtime so estimate that cost as well. Often people leap in and buy a satellite phone without realizing all the other purchases they need to make. This does not mean you cannot afford a satellite phone. It simply means you may need to buy a cheaper model or a used one. Thus, with a little research and careful planning you can ensure that you get the best deal only