MILPITAS, Calif., Sept. 5, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPOT LLC, the pioneer behind the award-winning SPOT Satellite Messenger, offers a new, inexpensive product that can be valuable to those living in Hurricane zones and other areas as they prepare to face emergencies and natural disasters. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declared September "Disaster Preparedness Month" and with Tropical Storm Hanna approaching the Southeast coast this weekend, and Tropical Storms Ike and Josephine following, residents can use a reliable personal locator to supplement their landline and cell phone service, which may be compromised during a natural disaster.
SPOT is a lightweight, handheld personal safety communications device that enables users to send messages and GPS coordinates directly and reliably to friends and loved ones letting them know they are okay. SPOT can also send an emergency message for help to an emergency call center used by SPOT LLC., from virtually anywhere around the globe. The emergency call center then dispatches the nearest first responders to the location of the SPOT unit. Hurricanes and other disastrous weather conditions often wreak havoc on communications infrastructure. In these circumstances, and when power outages occur, SPOT remains fully operational because it uses 100% satellite technology, and is battery operated.
"Our hearts go out to those affected by these hurricanes and our deepest sympathies for those who have suffered great losses as a result," said Darren Bassel, Director of Marketing for SPOT LLC. "Residents in these storm-prone areas need to know that power outages and the failure of landline and cellular service do not preclude potentially life-saving communications. SPOT is a highly affordable and reliable form of communication that can help provide peace of mind and emergency assistance while other forms of communication have been rendered ineffective, and its GPS tracking features offer residents and emergency responders alike the critical ability to locate family, friends and co-workers during these life-threatening situations."
SPOT's suggested retail price is $169.99 with a $99.00 annual subscription service. It is battery-operated (two AA lithium batteries), rugged, and waterproof, and allows families to send satellite text and email messages for help, or to inform loved ones that they are out of harm's way. In an emergency, SPOT will notify GEOS, an international emergency response center used to dispatch local rescue authorities to the SPOT user's GPS location.
SPOT is available at more than 5,000 points-of-sale including national and regional outdoor retailers in the US. SPOT is also available at the Company's website at www.findmespot.com.
About SPOT LLC
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 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(sm) - from disaster preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes - visit www.findmespot.com.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
To download high resolution images of the SPOT Satellite Messenger please visit http://findmespot.com/MediaCenter/PressRoom/ImageGallery.aspx.