| There are innumerable brands available of which | | | | depending primarily on the type of handset you |
| the following are worthwhile: (1) Globalstar, (2) | | | | want. Whether you use it or not, you may have |
| Iridium, (3) Inmarsat, (4) Thuraya, (5) Pelican, (6) | | | | to pay an average daily minimum usage of 3 |
| RBGAN, and (7) NERA. The price of a satellite | | | | minutes, and in some cases, even more. Some |
| phone handset ranges from $275 to $9500 | | | | satellite phone companies require you to pay |
| depending upon the type of services provided. A | | | | weekly insurance, which, in all probability, will cost |
| voice and slow access data phone handset will | | | | you between $25 to $45 per week! |
| attract the minimum price whereas a high quality | | | | Iridium does not charge you any connection |
| voice together with a real fast data transfer will | | | | charges. However, they charge $.21 towards |
| cost much more, may be from $5500 to $9500. | | | | monthly subscription. Suppose you talk from your |
| Data cables, SIM Cards etc., cost you more. The | | | | Iridium handset to another Iridium handset within |
| rates are on the basis of (1) rate of incoming calls | | | | the United States, you may have to shell out $.50 |
| and, (2) rate of outgoing calls per minute. Most | | | | per minute. In the event of the call being an |
| companies do not charge, or, charge very little | | | | international one, you may have to pay $1.50 per |
| connection charges. In addition they also slap on | | | | minute. In all other cases where you talk from |
| you a service charge every time you renew. | | | | your Iridium handset to various other satellite |
| In case you want to rent, may be you are called | | | | phone systems, the charges are an exorbitant |
| to pay $45 to $ 475 per week towards rental; | | | | $8.50 per minute. |