Geoff Schultz wrote:
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 and
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

I've seen cheaper plans lately.
However, my biggest gripe is with the initial Iridium business plan.
They intended to sell phones for $750-$1000 and then sell time for
outrageous prices at a time when the cell industry was just beginning
to take off. Didn't their financers ever consider the probable
improvement in cell phone service vs the cost of putting up all those
satellites? It's a classic case of venture capital people not having a
clue about techie things. I am glad Iridium is there but there is no
way it can ever recoup costs.