I don't know if I would agree with that entirely. Certainly if you need 24/7 service and depend upon the phone for true emergency communications, Globalstar is not the option for you.

However, Globalstar knows it has spotty coverage (maybe 20-30 minutes per hour in the western U.S.) and has priced it services aggressively to keep customers. I currently have a plan at $29 per month with unlimited usage in North America. When traveling in Canada, I get more than sufficient coverage to get my money's worth. Yes, I have dropped calls and I need to plan longer calls using the availability tool on their website, but this inconvenience is out-weighed by the substantial cost savings over Iridium. When I do have satellites overhead, the call quality is quite good.

Additionally, Globalstar is launching two more birds this month that will go along way toward closing the gaps in their constellation.

So I would not automatically rule Globalstar out. Determine your needs, weigh the cost differences, and invest accordingly. YMMV

Craig