MILPITAS, Calif., June 24, 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 the SPOT Assist Roadside service is now available to SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger(tm) customers in the Continental United States and Canada. SPOT Assist Roadside is the world's only portable roadside service provider to operate solely on satellite communications, independent of cellular networks.
Unlike OnStar(r) or other GPS navigation devices that may rely on cellular communications, SPOT Assist Roadside combines GPS and satellite communications technologies to deliver location-based messaging regardless of cellular network coverage. SPOT Assist Roadside, supported by Nation Safe Drivers, a leading provider of national roadside assistance, allows drivers on the road to receive roadside assistance 24/7/365 from service providers around town or in remote areas.
With a simple push of the dedicated "Help" button on the handheld SPOT Messenger, customers who have subscribed to the SPOT Assist Roadside Service can instantly alert a national roadside response center of their location and need for roadside assistance from virtually anywhere in North America.
"SPOT Assist provides the ultimate GPS safety system integrating third-party services such as national roadside assistance at a very modest price," said Darren Bassel, global marketing director for SPOT LLC. "SPOT Assist Roadside provides our customers with reliable roadside assistance services and personal satellite messaging in areas where cell phones don't work or are unreliable. The general availability of SPOT Assist Roadside leading into the summer travel months is great timing as families are hitting the highways for their vacations. Today's announcement demonstrates our continued commitment to developing innovative satellite-based solutions for our active customers."
The SPOT Assist Roadside program includes five roadside tows per year, up to 50 miles per tow, as well as auto-accident assistance, fuel delivery services, tire repair, battery services and lock key and lockout service.
The integration of SPOT Assist Roadside provides SPOT customers a complete GPS safety system which includes four functions that transmit messages via satellite based on varying levels of need:
* Help notifies the SPOT Assist roadside response center or others of your GPS location and need for assistance. * Check In lets contacts know where you are and that you are okay * Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows contacts to track your progress using Google Maps(tm) * Alert 9-1-1 notifies an emergency rescue coordination center of your GPS location
Pricing and Availability
SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger(tm) retails for $169.99 SRP and is available at www.findmespot.com and leading retailers and online outlets. Purchase SPOT Assist Roadside service at the time of SPOT basic service activation for $30 additional per year. Existing SPOT customers can add SPOT Assist Roadside to their existing service through accessing their personal account. Annual basic SPOT service is required starting at $99.99 per year which includes unlimited use of Check-in, Track Progress and 9-1-1 messages. For more information on SPOT Assist visit www.findmespot.com/assist.
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/