MILPITAS, Calif., Dec. 10, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPOT LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. (Nasdaq:GSAT), today announced that leading French sporting goods retailer Decathlon has signed an agreement with Globalstar Europe Satellite Services to distribute the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger at its retail store locations throughout France. Decathlon is the first retailer in France distributing SPOT. The revolutionary new product is a light-weight handheld satellite communications device designed to raise the safety factor for millions of people around the world. SPOT provides users, particularly outdoor enthusiasts, with a vital line of communication, regardless of cellular or mobile coverage.
SPOT enables users, based on varying levels of need, to send messages to friends, family, co-workers or emergency responders, and to visually track the location of the SPOT Satellite Messenger on the web:
* Alert 9-1-1 notifies an emergency response call centre of your GPS location * Ask for Help sends a request for help to friends and family * Check-In lets contacts know where you are and that you are OK * Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows contacts to track your progress using Google Maps(tm)
"Decathlon is one of the world's leading sporting goods retailers and is the mountain sports store that outdoor enthusiasts know and trust," said Steven Bell, Senior Vice President, International Sales and Marketing for SPOT parent company, Globalstar, Inc. Mr. Bell added, "Regular GPS devices tell you where you are, the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger lets other people know where to find you. Whether you're mountaineering, extreme skiing, all-terrain cycling, or hiking, if you work or play in areas not covered by mobile coverage, SPOT will provide you with a way to send messages for help."
"Whether you're traveling around the world and want to give your family peace of mind while staying connected to civilization or quite simply want to be easily located in case of technical problems when mountain biking, SPOT is the perfect solution that enables you to share your whereabouts anytime, anywhere," said Bertrand Czaicki, product manager, electronic devices for Decathlon. "SPOT is easy to use and thanks to its sturdy, waterproof design, it's reliable in even the most extreme outdoor conditions. SPOT is the first device of its kind that can locate you on the internet in real time via satellite communication, regardless of national borders and local GSM networks. In addition to its technical capability, the user also has access to a worldwide satellite network at one low cost."
Combining reliable commercial satellite messaging and GPS location technologies, the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is an affordable personal safety device, designed to provide users with a vital line of communication to friends, family, co-workers and emergency services, even when used beyond the reach of cellular mobile telephones. SPOT has won numerous industry innovation awards and assisted in the rescue of over 80 individuals around the world since being introduced just one year ago.
For more information regarding the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger, please visit www.findmespot.com In Europe please visit http://www.findmespot.eu/ For more information regarding Decathlon please visit http://www.decathlon.fr
About Decathlon
"Making Sports and exercise both enjoyable and accessible for everyone" is Decathlon's mission statement. Since 1976, Decathlon has been the one-stop shopping store for more than 60 sports as well as numerous services. Products from our "Passion" brand -- as well as the several large international brands we carry -- meet the needs of both amateur and experienced sports enthusiasts alike. For over 10 years, Decathlon has also given its customers the chance to discover experience sports personally via activities such as biking, hiking and running. Decathlon operates more than 400 shops in about fifteen countries around the world. More than 40 000 dedicated co-workers share their passion for sport with their customers.
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.