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Definition: satellite phone


A telephone that transmits and receives from satellites. Satellite phones (sat phones) provide coverage around the world and are used at sea and in regions where cell service is spotty or non-existent. Starting in the late 1990s, phones became available for voice and texting. Iridium was the first satellite service but Globalstar is the largest. See Iridium, Inmarsat and Globalstar.




In the Himalayas
With satellite phone service, medical advice is only a telephone call away, even in the Himalayan mountain range. (Image courtesy of O'Gara Satellite Networks.)






Inmarsat Satellite Phone
Shown with the antenna stowed at its side, the IsatPhone 2 is a rugged sat phone for the Inmarsat satellite service. (Image courtesy of Inmarsat Global Limited.)






Satellite Messaging from a Smartphone
This Defy Satellite Link from Motorola pairs with Androids and iPhones via Bluetooth. It enables text messages to be sent via the Bullitt Satellite Messenger app from anywhere in the world. (Image courtesy of B & H Foto & Electronics Corp.)