Anyone here use a Satellite Phone?
 

I travel back and forth between the US and Asia quite a bit. I'm thinking of getting a satellite phone for easier communication. But I'm torn between just using a prepaid tri-band cellphone service or a satellite phone. Tri-band is okay but the sim swapping seems like a hassle plus I accrue monthly costs in the US even if I'm not there. The alternative is a satellite phone but it can be quite costly. example: http://www.globalstarusa.com/pricing/roam_rates.shtml Anybody here use a satellite phone? How convenient is it? What's the voice quality like?

I would just get two phones. 1 in the US and 1 in the Asian country you spend the most time in.

I use one but its a fixed one on my boat (a Tracphone) its expensive and only really useful when out of cellphone range.

i suggest you go for a VoIP solution. its the best solution when calling the US and Canada. yeah, Satellite phones does not come cheap.

Tri-band phones from Nokia supposedly fix this. Problem is US services are usually fixed line services with monthly recurring billing. This arrangement is okay if I spend a lot of time in the US, however it seems kind of a waste since I spend a lot of time overseas.

wow... i thought the point of a satellite phone was so you could use it pretty much anywhere in the world... lol globalstar is pretty limited. :(

Good point! VoIP providers like DialPad charge only 3.9 cents a minute to call US from PI. Regular PI phone service providers like PLDT charge 40 cents USD on IDD calls.

exactly, its something you might want to invest in. PLDT sucks and it would cost you fortunes to call in the US. VoiP in the Phil is a new technology that would surely get noticed in the long run.

I use an Iridium satellite phone hand held.

Mostly just use it on my boat when I'm out of cell range.

Voice quality is not as good as cell.

Often sounds like your talking underwater or there is a huge echo.

When you have to talk to someone it works but its no cell phone.

If you really want to check one out try a rental Sat phone.

http://cellularexpressphonerentals.com/satellite.html

Iridium is better than Globalstar in my opinion