GlobalStar's Data Service (Score 2, Informative)

I have the GlobalStar service. I purchased it primarily for data service in areas where wireless PCS data service is not available. Though it connects at 9600 bps, the latency is about half that of connecting through my Sprint PCS phone at 14.4 -- about 350ms versus Sprint's 700ms. Since most of my work is done through SSH, the lower latency at 9600 works better for me anyway. It also requires line-of-sight, so unless you're outside, it likely won't be able to reach the satellite. Overall, though it's expensive to use in comparison with normal cell phones, it serves its purpose. If the prices continue to drop to a level where the average consumer can use them, and they include backward-compatibility for the traditional cellular networks, I think these phones could easily become more widespread in the future.