Hard to believe "back in the day" before all this technology I would grab my backpack and dog and hit the Colorado trail for a couple of weeks "hike." I always wondered what would happen if I did get seriously hurt. I suppose we relied on the scream loud technology! That didn't stop me though.
Here in the US the Garmin is advertised as being able to work globally. Did you misread something? It's on the Iridium system which covers the planet (there are few countries where satellite phones are illegal or not allowed through customs for political reasons. Looking at the list they're not places I'm likely to be lost in the woods). The plan for just emergency use seems kind of pricey but can be turned on and off on a monthly basis. You still need to pay the annual fee. This cost is probably why the qualcomm chipset didn't gain traction with the android cell phone manufacturers.
Smartphones are also appearing or appeared (apple and google-in a roundabout way), which have a satellite SOS feature, but it'll probably be a feature on a lot of phones within the next year or so. As of now, their coverage doesn't appear to be as good as Iridium, but probably good enough for most of us mere mortals. If you're sailing the world the Iridium system is the best option. It'll be fun seeing how this satellite technology develops in smart phone use over the next couple of years.
Here in the US the Garmin is advertised as being able to work globally. Did you misread something? It's on the Iridium system which covers the planet (there are few countries where satellite phones are illegal or not allowed through customs for political reasons. Looking at the list they're not places I'm likely to be lost in the woods). The plan for just emergency use seems kind of pricey but can be turned on and off on a monthly basis. You still need to pay the annual fee. This cost is probably why the qualcomm chipset didn't gain traction with the android cell phone manufacturers.
Smartphones are also appearing or appeared (apple and google-in a roundabout way), which have a satellite SOS feature, but it'll probably be a feature on a lot of phones within the next year or so. As of now, their coverage doesn't appear to be as good as Iridium, but probably good enough for most of us mere mortals. If you're sailing the world the Iridium system is the best option. It'll be fun seeing how this satellite technology develops in smart phone use over the next couple of years.