MILPITAS, Calif., April 8, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- SPOT Inc. today announced that the SPOT Satellite Messenger is now available to the maritime community through West Marine, the country's largest retailer of boating supplies and accessories. West Marine will carry the award winning SPOT, the world's first satellite messenger, throughout its 370 retail locations in the United States plus Puerto Rico and Canada. The SPOT Satellite Messenger is also available through West Marine's Annual Catalog, via phone at 800-BOATING or online at www.westmarine.com.
"West Marine is a trusted and respected maritime retailer with a customer base that is ideally suited for the emergency preparedness capabilities of SPOT," said Jake Rembert, vice president of sales for SPOT Inc. "We look forward to working with West Marine in educating and informing their customers of the potentially life-saving value of the SPOT Satellite Messenger."
The SPOT Satellite Messenger is a handheld device that allows users to communicate from virtually any location -- including some of the most remote locations -- around the globe independently of cellular networks. SPOT is unique because it uses the GPS satellite network to determine the user's location, along with the SPOT network to transmit both non-distress "peace-of-mind" messages to friends and family and to initiate life-threatening or other critical emergency response assistance. The distress messages sent by SPOT are transmitted to the GEOS International Emergency Response Center which notifies appropriate rescue authorities, including the U.S. Coast Guard, based on the user's location on land or sea.
The SPOT Satellite Messenger measures 4.38" X 2.75" X 1.5", weighs just over 7 ounces, has a battery life of one-year when powered on, is waterproof (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes), floats, and carries a SRP of US$169.95. A one-year subscription for basic satellite service is US$99.99 and includes unlimited usage of the following:
* ALERT 9-1-1: notifies emergency responders of your GPS location * ASK FOR HELP: Request help from friends and family at your GPS location * CHECK IN: Let contacts know where you are and that you're safe * TRACK PROGRESS: Send and save location coordinates and allow contacts to track progress using Google Maps(tm) with an additional cost of $49.99 for unlimited usage
In addition to the public rescue services, GEOS offers a one-year subscription of a GEOS Search & Rescue Benefit for $7.95 at the time of service activation, which includes:
* Up to $100,000 of private search and rescue resources, including helicopter extraction around the world and reimbursement benefits
"At West Marine, we place the utmost importance on doing everything we can to make boating fun, and to ensure the health and safety of our valued customers," said Gary Williamson, category manager, West Marine. "The SPOT Satellite Messenger has proven its ability to save the lives of boaters and anglers and we are pleased to add it to our store shelves in advance of the summer boating season."
ABOUT WEST MARINE
West Marine, the country's largest retailer of boating supplies and accessories, has 370 West Marine stores in 38 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. The Company's catalog and Internet channels offer customers approximately 80,000 products -- far more than any competitor -- and the convenience of exchanging catalog and Internet purchases at its retail stores. The Company's Port Supply division is one of the country's largest wholesale distributors of marine equipment serving boat manufacturers, marine services, commercial vessel operators and government agencies. For more information on West Marine's products and store locations, or to start shopping, please visit www.westmarine.com or call 1-800-BOATING (1-800-262-8464).
About SPOT Inc.
The SPOT Satellite Messenger, the world's first satellite messenger, 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 center. SPOT Inc., 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 Inc. is helping users live to tell about it(sm) -- from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes -- visit www.findmespot.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS: to download a high resolution picture of the SPOT Satellite Messenger please visit http://sales.findmespot.com/photoshoot/index.htm.