I am your host Lou Altman, the founder and President of GlobaFone and we are approaching our ninth anniversary on April 1.

I started GlobaFone strictly renting GSM 900/1800 phones to people traveling overseas and we’re still at it. However, the majority of our business now comes from our satellite business. GlobaFone is the largest Globalstar STAR in the Northeast, we are an Iridium re-seller and we dabble in INMARSAT, Thuraya and MSV. We have clients such as FEMA, DOJ, NASA, EPA, DODIG, MA. Dept of Public Health and numerous others. People work with us because of our comprehensive programs and superior client support. Blah, blah, blah – what else would I say, but the proof is in our client base. They are very loyal to us because of the value we provide. Enough of that!

Why should you listen to me? Simple – I know what I am talking about and in this business, the product is irrelevant. It’s all about the solution!

• What does the satellite phone do for the client?
• What problem does it solve?
• How does it help them?

These are the key questions, and they emphasize action, not static questions such as: How many satellites are there? How long will the battery last? Sure they are important, but do not define the value of the phone. Sound unusual? It is. My Globalstar phone number ends in 0008 and GlobaFone has been through the bankruptcies with both Globalstar and Iridium. I even had an Iridium executive (the old Iridium) call me and complain when I listed 110+ phones on ebay (“What are you trying to do to the market?”) liquidation. Both systems have advantages over the other, and both have sustainable futures because they have different niches which will continue as events unfold in the next 8 years.

So there you have it! A quick introduction, a little bio on GlobaFone and some questions to get YOU thinking aobut what satellite phones might do for you and your business. I’ll be discussing hurricane season in my next posting. Be sure to check back!

Was this good information? Do you think I’m off-base? Write to me directly: l.altman@globafone.com