MILPITAS, Calif., Aug. 26, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPOT LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. (Nasdaq:GSAT) and a leader in personal satellite messaging and emergency communications, today announced that its award-winning SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger(tm) will be available in Best Buy Co., Inc (NYSE:BBY) retail locations nationwide. Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. Starting today, consumers can purchase the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger at Best Buy stores in the United States and online at www.bestbuy.com
The SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger is the world's first handheld satellite personal messaging and safety device that provides an unparalleled level of peace-of-mind for consumers who spend time in the outdoors or simply want to stay connected with family and friends while away from home.
"We are very excited to announce today the general availability of the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger to customers of one of North America's leading consumer electronics retailers," said Jake Rembert, Vice President of Sales, SPOT LLC. "This partnership further expands our national retail footprint within the consumer electronics space. Tech savvy Best Buy shoppers now have the convenience of purchasing a SPOT device to stay connected with their friends and family and to help ensure their safety while spending time in the outdoors or traveling on the road with their loved ones."
SPOT combines GPS location technologies with reliable commercial satellite messaging to communicate the user's location information and status to a pre-determined list of personal contacts with the push of a button. In an emergency the user can send a S.O.S/9-1-1 alert notifying an international emergency rescue coordination center of their location and need for help from virtually anywhere in the world -- including some of the most remote locations -- independently of cellular networks. SPOT's tracking functionality sends and saves the user's location waypoints and allows their contacts to track their progress in real-time using Google Maps(tm).
Additional subscription services include SPOT Assist Roadside, providing the world's only portable roadside service to operate solely on satellite communications. SPOT Assist Roadside allows drivers on the road to receive roadside assistance 24/7/365 from service providers around town or in remote areas regardless of cellular availability. Backed by a leading provider of national roadside assistance, SPOT Assist services include roadside towing, auto-accident assistance, fuel services, tire repair, battery service, lost key and lockout.
Since its November 2007 introduction, the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger has helped initiate over 300 rescues on land and at sea in 51 countries. SPOT users have also transmitted more than 12 million "peace-of-mind" and "track me" messages worldwide.
For more information on the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger and services, please visit www.bestbuy.com or the company website at www.findmespot.com.
About SPOT LLC
The SPOT Satellite GPS 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.
Notes to Reporters:
High-resolution photos of SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger are available at http://findmespot.com/en/pressroom/.