SPOT and DeLorme Unveil First Handheld GPS With Satellite Communicator

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SPOT and DeLorme Unveil First Handheld GPS With Satellite Communicator

New SPOT Satellite Communicator and Earthmate PN-60w Combines GPS Navigation With Custom Messaging and Emergency Notification!
GLOBE NEWSWIRE
January 07, 2010
Spot LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. (Nasdaq:GSAT) and a leader in personal satellite communications and DeLorme, the innovation leader in mapping and GPS technologies, today jointly announced the world's first rugged, handheld GPS and satellite communicator product. The DeLorme Earthmate(R) PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator will be the first handheld GPS navigation device capable of sending customized text messages even when the user is operating far beyond the range of cellular communications. The product is scheduled for general availability in the Spring of 2010 and will be unveiled this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The DeLorme Earthmate(R) PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator
The revolutionary SPOT Satellite Communicator, designed exclusively for the new PN-60w, merges SPOT satellite message functionality and DeLorme state-of-the-art GPS mapping via wireless. Together, this product pairing offers broader messaging capabilities. Users can send freeform text messages using the PN-60w's keyboard to select individuals or groups from the field even from remote areas world-wide.

Established SPOT technology allows real-time location updates and the ability to summon help in an emergency. Custom messages and waypoints can easily be shared with social networking sites like SPOTadventures.com, Geocaching.com, Twitter, and Facebook. As an emergency back-up, the SPOT Satellite Communicator has stand-alone capability to send location-based SOS notification to an emergency response center.

"Today's announcement combines the latest in sophisticated handheld GPS with SPOT satellite communications providing one-of-a-kind, custom messaging and sharing of geo-location information with others in real-time," said Peter Dalton, President of Spot LLC and Chief Executive Officer of Globalstar Inc. "We are excited to partner with DeLorme in bringing to market a new wireless GPS solution to consumers."

"For the first time, people will be able to type custom text messages using the Earthmate PN-60w internal keyboard and then transmit wirelessly to the unique DeLorme SPOT Communicator for sending satellite messages around the globe," said Caleb Mason, DeLorme Vice President.

Users of the PN-60w can easily manage their profile online including custom maps and message history utilizing a fully integrated user interface designed by SPOT. Information can be kept fully private or shared with family and friends using custom tools like SPOT Shared Pages and SPOTadventures.com.

As a stand-alone GPS, the Earthmate PN-60w delivers premium navigation features including a 32-channel GPS chipset, blazing-fast dual-core processor, 3-axis electronic compass, sensitive barometric altimeter, elevation profiles, and GPX file transfers.

At CES, DeLorme also will be announcing new worldwide map data for the PN-60w, including high-resolution color aerial imagery.

SPOT will also be showcasing its SPOT Satellite Messenger product family and satellite-based services at CES including the award winning SPOT Personal Tracker(TM) and the new SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger(TM). Learn about new SPOT Assist services, including SPOT Assist Roadside, providing the only satellite-based roadside assistance and SPOT Assist Maritime providing direct access to BoatU.S. Towing services with the push of a button.

Availability
The PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator is scheduled to be available in spring 2010 at retail locations and online sites specializing in GPS, outdoor recreation and electronics products. They can also be ordered from DeLorme at www.delorme.com or by calling 800-561-5105.

About Spot LLC
The SPOT product family 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 call center. Spot LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. (Nasdaq:GSAT), 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 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 LLC is helping users live to tell about it -- from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes -- visit www.findmespot.com.

About DeLorme
DeLorme is the longtime leader in innovative mapping and GPS solutions for both consumer and professional markets. Based in Yarmouth, ME, DeLorme offers a unique set of core competencies across the complex areas of map data creation and management, software development, and integration with GPS. The ability to develop all the critical components necessary to compete in the fast-changing navigation world provides a distinct competitive advantage. DeLorme is one of a handful of mapmakers that still own and produce their own content, and its Street Atlas USA, Topo USA, XMap, and Earthmate GPS products have introduced countless first-to-market innovations. To learn more, go to www.delorme.com.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/globenewswire/181253.htm

Webmeister's Note: REI reportedly has the new Delorme Earthmate PN-60W Portable GPS Navigator with the SPOT Satellite Communicator for $549. It will be available on May 1, 2010, but you can already pre-order it. Note that this device can only send your instant message, it can not receive messages. (at this time?)--Robert Speik

The basic design improvement of SPOT over PLBs

Again, an improvement of SPOT over (optional GPS enabled) PLBs is the ability to "real-life test" the communication system where the user actually hikes, hunts, sleds, climbs and wanders. If the user programmed message "Hello, I am exactly here and I am having fun" gets through on previous trips, so will the message "911 Rescue Services are on the way, but don't worry Honey, they know where to find me".

The traditional PLB can be tested for sending out a signal. It cannot be tested for whether the signal requesting Rescue has actually been received. The location accuracy of the PLB using the venerable COSPAS-SARSAT system of seven satellites (without optional GPS support), can be up to two miles.
--Webmeister Speik

Technical questions answered by SPOT

The Communications Satellite Network Used by SPOT. What is it?
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
SPOT Transmits your GPS location through a network of LEO Satellites (Low Earth Orbit). These satellites are in constant motion and are in 8 planes with 6 satellites in each plane providing overlapping coverage. They fly at an altitude of 1,414 kilometers or 884 miles above the earth, moving at 17,000 miles per hour overhead. The satellites move horizon to horizon in approximately 20 minutes, so no matter where you are (such as in a canyon or on a mountain), as long as you can see the sky, your SPOT message gets through.

SPOT and the Commercial Data Network
Tuesday, 28 July 2009 16:00
Many of our customers from time-to-time have questions about the commercial data network that SPOT messages are sent through.

SPOT uses the Globalstar simplex data network to transmit messages. This is a proven data network that is also supporting tens of thousands of commercial and industrial data modems sending millions of messages each month for asset tracking and remote management applications. The simplex data network signal path works differently than the Globalstar satellite phone signal path, providing significantly better reliability and message completion rates. Extensive testing shows 99.6% reliability. Like mentioned, the commercial data network not only supports message transmissions from the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger. In fact it originated to support a variety of personal messaging and tracking, aviation flight-following, and emergency asset and fleet tracking customer applications from some of the most demanding business customers all around the world. Simplex data solutions are also used for a number of remote monitoring and alarm applications, both within and beyond the reach of traditional wireless and terrestrial infrastructure. Information such as GPS co-ordinates, remote status and other sensor information can be reliably sent to customers using the Simplex network.

What does this mean to you? You can pack peace-of-mind and everyday remote communication capabilities and know that your network is the same commercial data network that some of the world’s most demanding businesses choose to track their assets and transfer data.

http://www.findmespot.com/en/spotnews/index.php

WARNING - *DISCLAIMER!*
Mountain climbing has inherent dangers that can, only in part, be mitigated

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