Bob Y. replied:

Max, Do a search over the past week or so, someone did an informative, and interesting follow-up(I think) on the Irridium sat phones. Don't know if they have GSM facility.

With $200 of calls /month you should be able to get a deal. Had a staff member a while back, who leased a TELNIT phone, through Optus, for $1100/year, with about $100 calls free/month. It had GSM too. Hooroo..

Brad replied:

Similar question posted on this forum a few weeks ago - Vodafone/globalstar/telit system got caned - suggest you seek it out and make your own judgement. Iridium/telstra system seemed to come out ahead. Could look at http://www.marlec.com.au/
Regards,
Brad

sean replied:

If you are considereing hand held, then the Iridium /Motorola system is the ONLY way to go. That is what I currently have.

I have owned and extensively used vodaphone/globalstar and I found it to be totally unreliable. Do a searh on this forum and you will see other posts.

You can get the iridium system at any telstra shop.

Sean

GOB replied:

telstat comms in seaford had telstra deal going at wandin $999 for phone + ithink $2.10 per 30 secs no contract