[RNLD] Spot GPS Messenger [was satellite phones]

[Nick Thieberger]

Does anyone have experience of using a 'Spot GPS Messenger' as an
alternative to satellite phones?
http://www.mapcgis.com.au/spot_12.html?gclid=CNGMptD2ybACFcIlpAodETAOVg


Their blurb follows:

SOS (was 911): Use this function In the event of a life threatening or
other critical emergency to notify emergency services of your GPS
location and that you need assistance. The GEOS International
Emergency Response Center alerts the appropriate agencies worldwide -
for example contacting 9-1-1 responders in North America, 1-1-2
responders in Europe and AMSA in Australia.

Help: In the event of a non-life threatening emergency, you can use
this function to notify your personal contacts that you need
assistance.

Check-in/OK: This feature allows you to let your friends and family
know that all is OK with a pre-programmed message along with your GPS
location. With a push of a button a message is sent via email or SMS
to up to 10 pre-determined contacts and your waypoint is stored in
your SPOT account for later reference. Your stored waypoints can be
easily integrated into a SPOT Shared Page.

Custom Message: This feature allows you to let your friends and family
now receive a custom message along with your GPS location with a push
of a button. Use this feature as a secondary OK message or specialized
Help message.

Track Progress: This feature allows you to send and save your location
and allow contacts to track your progress in near real time using
Google Maps. With your SPOT account you have the ability to set up a
SPOT Shared Page which allows you to show your SPOT GPS locations to
others on a Google Map.

Coverage:
SPOT works around the world, including virtually all of North America,
Europe and Australia, portions of South America, Northern Africa and
Northeastern Asia, and hundreds or thousands of miles offshore of
these areas.