New Iridium Pre-paid Plans

[geoffschultz]

I have an Iridium phone aboard for safety and the occasional phone call home. I called on 12/31/2004 to refill my pre-paid card, but Outfitter Satellite, was closed for the holidays. When I got through today I was informed that as of 1/1/2005 minimum size refill that you can get is a $500 + $40 tax! It used to be $200.

For $200 I'm willing to have a sat phone aboard for safety and saying hi to mom & dad every once in a while. But $500 is pushing the limit. I just don't need 500 minutes of talk time. I'm sure that lots of other cruisers are in the same situation.

So, if you fall into the category of people that consider this a stupid rate plan, feel free to send e-mail to mailto:sales@iridium.com and mailto:marketing@iridium.com and let them know what you think. I know that I did. I don't know that it will do any good, but it's at least worth letting them know what you think.

-- Geoff

[exposure]

I have not checked the financials for Iridium lately, but I suspect supply and demand is swinging in their favor, since gulf war II and now the wide spread damage in Asia. Certainly us little guys are the lowest income vs. cost component if their business. And I wouldn't look for things to get better since there is little or no competition.