MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 8, 2015) - Globalstar Canada Satellite Co ., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar Inc. (NYSE MKT: GSAT) and the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, announced today that its SPOT family of products has initiated 4,000 rescues around the world since its launch in 2007. One in four, or 25% of SPOT rescues worldwide, have been initiated in Canada, including the recent rescue of a Newfoundland hunter following an emergency medical incident. SPOT is currently being used by customers to initiate almost two rescues a day and delivers affordable location-based messaging and life-saving emergency notification technology to hundreds of thousands of users, completely independent of cellular coverage.
Michael Herrera, SPOT's 4,000 th rescuee and a retired Houston firefighter, was off-roading alone in DeKalb County, Alabama on his dual-sport dirt bike when he took a hard fall. Although initially disoriented, his experience as a first responder told him that his injuries were more serious than he could see. It was then that he reached for his SPOT Gen3® and pressed the S.O.S. button. Within 40 minutes of the S.O.S. activation, an ATV and ambulance were onsite. At the hospital, it was determined that he had suffered a broken collarbone, three broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung.
There have been 1,100 rescues initiated in Canada using SPOT, which represents more than 25% of all worldwide rescues since the technology was introduced. British Columbia has reported the greatest number of SPOT rescues with 430 incidents, followed by Alberta with 132. The majority of SPOT rescues in Canada have been initiated from hiking/mountain sports, boating/water sports and motor vehicle incidents.
This fall, the rescue of Newfoundlander Joe Hiscock was initiated using SPOT after he suffered a serious medical incident while on a hunting trip at his cabin. The cabin is located in a remote area of Burgeo NL, beyond the reach of cellular networks. After using SPOT to initiate a call for help, Joe was airlifted to Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital in Stephenville where he received emergency medical treatment. Joe continues to recover at home and is grateful for the outcome and his rescue saying "everybody who goes out in the woods should have a SPOT. It could save their life. It saved mine." The complete Joe Hiscock rescue story is available at: http://www.findmespot.ca/en/joehiscockrescue
SPOT products work virtually everywhere in the world, most recently expanding to provide Pan-African coverage. Offering peace of mind through reliable satellite-based connectivity, SPOT users have the ability to track assets, use location-based messaging and get help beyond the boundaries of cellular.
"We are dedicated to offering affordable, life-saving technology that people can rely on," said Jay Monroe, CEO and Chairman of Globalstar. "Reaching this 4000 th rescue milestone is a true testament to the success of our mission, and our entire team takes great pride in the thousands of lives that have been saved through SPOT-initiated rescues over the past eight years. It is evident that SPOT continues to be a go-to companion for anyone adventuring or working outside of cellular range."
"We are pleased to continue to provide such an important service for owners and users of SPOT devices. This day in age, people shouldn't have to worry about lack of access to emergency services as they work and travel the globe, and our 24/7 emergency response center and certified team at the International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) ensures that should an emergency occur, we'll get you out quickly and safely," commented Mark Garver, CEO of GEOS Safety and Response.
The SPOT family is comprised of a variety of products and services and is currently offering an aggressive holiday promotion with the following devices free after Mail-In-Rebate with activation on applicable service plan :
SPOT Gen3 offers enhanced functionality with more tracking features, improved battery performance and more power options including rechargeable and USB direct line power. Features include: SOS feature to immediately reach emergency personnel if required, custom tracking (2 1/2, 5, 10, 30, or 60 minute tracking intervals available), motion-activated tracking, continuous tracking and extended battery life.
SPOT Global Phone a portable, easy-to-use and data-enabled satellite phone, provides industry-leading, 2-way crystal clear voice quality where cell service won't work. With the availability of Express Data on most data plans and with data speeds of 9.6 Kbps, SPOT Global Phone provides up to four times the data speed of other mobile satellite data providers, enabling emails, file transfers, and basic services to occur at higher speeds.
SPOT Trace the newest addition to the SPOT family, is already helping approximately 20,000 customers keep tabs on their high-value assets like boats, ATV's, off-road bikes and RV's. Users can receive theft-alert SMS texts or emails when movement is detected. Customized tracking intervals and notification features, such as power off and daily status messages, are included with Basic Service. SPOT Trace's battery life of up to 18 months and available line power option lets users confidently monitor assets on and off the grid, in near real-time via the SPOT App.
GEOS Search and Rescue is an additional membership offered for as low as $17.95 per year, providing financial relief of possible expenditures occurred during a Search and Rescue incident. The additional membership can cover up to $100,000 of incurred expenses in a given membership year.
About SPOT LLC
SPOT LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., provides affordable satellite communication and tracking devices for recreational use. SPOT Global Phone uses the Globalstar network to transmit two-way voice and data communications. SPOT messaging devices use both the GPS satellite network and the Globalstar network to transmit text messages and GPS coordinates. Since 2007, SPOT has provided peace of mind by allowing customers to remain in contact completely independent of cellular coverage, having initiated over 4,000 rescues worldwide. For more information, visit FindMeSPOT.com. Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of Spot LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About Globalstar, Inc.
Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services. Globalstar offers these services to commercial and recreational users in more than 120 countries around the world. The Company's products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, simplex and duplex satellite data modems and flexible service packages. Many land based and maritime industries benefit from Globalstar with increased productivity from remote areas beyond cellular and landline service. Global customer segments include: oil and gas, government, mining, forestry, commercial fishing, utilities, military, transportation, heavy construction, emergency preparedness, and business continuity as well as individual recreational users. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring and SCADA applications. For more information regarding Globalstar Canada Satellite Co., please visit Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.ca .
