SPOT Inc. today announced the introduction of the SPOT Satellite Messenger. The SPOT messenger gives consumers a vital line of communication, independently of cellular coverage, with emergency services, friends, and family. SPOT is a revolutionary product that is designed to raise the safety factor for hundreds of millions of people around the world. “All of us have heard the news stories of people getting lost, stranded or worse in the mountains or remote areas beyond the range of their cellular phones and we’ve all wondered what would we do if caught in those same dangerous or potentially life-threatening situations,” said Darren Bassel, Director of Retail Marketing for SPOT Inc. “Now, with SPOT, you can send a message for help or tell family members, friends or the authorities exactly where to find you using GPS accuracy. For anyone who ever drives their truck or car, or works or plays anywhere regardless of cellular coverage, help is now only a push button away.” SPOT message and tracking functions enable users to send messages to friends, family or emergency responders, based on varying levels of need and to visually track the location of the SPOT Satellite Messenger:
- Alert 9-1-1 dispatches emergency responders to an exact location
- Ask for Help sends a request for help to friends and family
- Check In lets contacts know where you are and that you are okay
- Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows contacts to track your progress using Google Maps™
Weighing just over 7 ounces and priced at less than US $150, the SPOT Satellite Messenger provides consumers with the ability to send for emergency assistance in time of need; notify employers, friends or family of their status; and allows them to visually track the messenger’s location and progress on a computer using Google Maps™ and the SPOT website. SPOT uses convenient, easy-to-replace AA size lithium batteries for complete portability and when powered on, has a standby battery life of approximately 12 months. SPOT floats and its rugged waterproof construction is engineered to withstand a wide variety of extreme environmental shock and temperature conditions. SPOT iseal for the growing market of outdoor enthusiasts, specifically when they are backpacking, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, ice and rock climbing, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or participating in recreational maritime activities. Experianâ Simmon’s Research estimates that the qualified outdoor enthusiast market alone exceeds 64 million consumers in the United States. SPOT is alsoeal for those who need to notify others of their status after a natural or man-made disaster. The National Association for Search and Rescue estimates more than 50,000 search and rescue missions are initiated each year in the United States alone. Many of these missions are undertaken without search and rescue knowing the exact location of the missing party. SPOT removes this unknown by providing GPS location coordinates that are accurate to within 20 feet. SPOT can also be used for commercial lone worker safety applications for those businesses with employees operating in remote areas outside the range of cellular and other wireless communications. It is also a valuable safety tool for any person who drives their automobile outside of cellular coverage or for emergency messaging during natural disasters such as hurricanes or other situations when cellular or land-based communications may be damaged or unavailable. Mr. Bassel added, “Never before have all of these innovative features existed in one device – in some cases, the technology just didn’t exist, and those that did were too expensive. Now, virtually everyone can afford a potentially life-saving satellite messenger. The SPOT Messenger really represents the next-generation of satellite-based solutions for consumers. This product is just the first in what we expect to be a series of innovative SPOT satellite products designed for the everyday consumer. We anticipate our solutions will serve our customers around the world with long term peace of mind for years to come.” Pricing and Availability The SPOT Satellite Messenger will be available to the public starting November 1, 2007 through retailers and through SPOT Inc.’s Web site, www.findmespot.com. The SPOT messenger will be available for $149 USD. Initially, service fees will be offered for at $99 USD. Later, monthly and multi-year options will be available. Optional features include automatic tracking service (SPOTcasting) and private rescue service for countries or regions with non-responsive emergency services. Coverage SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of the continental United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia, portions of South America, Northern Africa and Northeastern Asia, and hundreds or thousands of miles offshore of these areas. SPOT uses the GPS satellite system to determine a user’s location and the SPOT network to transmit that location and the user’s status. The SPOT network features satellite technology with a proven 99.4% reliability while processing over 6 million messages a month – the equivalent of 2.3 messages per second. Product Specifications Approximate Dimensions: 4.38 X 2.75 X 1.5 inches Operating Temperature Range: -40 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Weight: 7.37 ounces About SPOT, Inc. The SPOT Satellite Messenger, the world’s first satellite messenger, uses both the GPS satellite network to determine a customer’s location and the SPOT network to transmit that information to friends, family or an emergency service center. SPOT Inc., a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., provides lifesaving communications technology that allows users to communicate from remote locations around the globe. Thanks to this affordable, cutting-edge personal safety device, the company offers people unmatched peace of mind by allowing customers to notify friends and family of their location and status, and to send for emergency assistance in time of need, completely independent of cellular phone or wireless coverage. For more information on how SPOT, Inc. is helping users live to tell about it™ – from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes – visit www.findmespot.com. For more information on how SPOT Inc. is helping users live to tell about it™ with its SPOT Satellite Messenger device, visit www.findmespot.com.
Contact: Mark Brinkerhoff Phone: (214) 520-5635