Re: Satellite Phones

and then I searched this ExploreOz site and found (http://www.exploroz.com/OntheRoad/Communications/SatellitePhone.aspx)



"..1. Dialling 1800/13/1300 numbers:- some satphones/providers do not offer the ability to dial these type of numbers. Consider the numbers you use when making bill payments, contacting your insurance company, making warranty claims, etc. Most of your breakdown resolutions may require contacting one of these companies via their call centres, and often times it is time consuming/difficult to find an alternative contact number. Having the ability to dial these type of numbers was voted by ExplorOzers one of the top buying considerations, however all companies using a 1800/1300 numbers will also have a standard number so it is possible to get around this problem simply by gathering your important numbers before your trip.."

So take your pick :-)

I guess the important sentence..."some satphones/providers do not offer the ability to dial these type of numbers...." is the one to follow up with the provider for YOUR phone service specifically

The business with the 1800 1300 or 13 number has to allow it to be accessed by a sat phone first, and I don't need google to tell me I own a 1300 number.

When I bought my business the 1300 number I bought with it was only open to local land line calls, I then opened it up to interstate and mobiles, it is not open to sat phones.

Just re-read your original question and you are asking specifically about Iridium units

The first quote that I posted from the sat phone hire company was in regards to Iridium units on their website

So I guess it means that with your set up you CAN ring those numbers

Hope I haven't confused you :-)

Steve in Kakadu

Calm down

If you look at my posts they were ALL in response to the original poster not your post

I have a Iridium 9505B on Telstra, don't have a problem with 1300 or 1800 numbers, but as said previously check with your carrier just to make sure.

Steve in Kakadu has provided the correct answer. It is up to the PROVIDER to what calls they will allow at their cost. Many of these numbers will not work. The roadside assist national number of 131111 does allow satellite phone calls. Good on them :)

So there are 2 parts to the equation? 1: your carrier satphone plan has to allow it and 2: the owner of the number has to have it unblocked for incoming satphone calls. If I'm correct here then you may be able to dial some 13 numbers and be blocked on others. That is a bit inconvenient? I suppose the owners of the 13 numbers do have to pay a rate for incoming calls and it may be higher for satphone calls.

Yes Michael it appears that way. Some numbers exclude "phones on an international network" and Inmarsat would be one of these. Iridium may not be excluded. My phone is not activated at present so I cannot test the numbers, but others here may be willing to try. Certainly it is up to the provider to choose what calls he pays for and on an international network, mis-dialled calls from all over the world to his number have to be paid for.

Earlier on I erred in not giving the full information on the 13xxxx numbers I quoted earlier in this thread.

From my research (link cannot be given on open forum due to 'self promotion' rules), 131111 for members with roadside assist should work on all networks.

"Police (Australia wide with the exception of Victoria) 131444. Note that this number cannot be called from phone on an international network. When in Victoria call 000".

Similarly the SES Australia wide number cannot be called from a phone on an international network.

Some users have reported getting through to some numbers as a one off, but this cannot be relied on.

Except for those 13XXX numbers whose owners have them blocked for mobile or satphone calls I assume?

Michael I think you missed my point..

If you use an Iridium Sat phone on a Telstra Mobile SIM, then it has the same access as any other mobile. It comes in through Telstra's mobile gateway set up under countrywide.

Given the caller pays for 13XXXX numbers, why would someone block those calls? What purpose would it serve.Take a look at your phone bill, you get charged for these.

The called party does pay for 1800 free numbers.

I've been using a mobile for many years and never had a 13XXX call blocked. Have you? I guess it can happen but I just can't think of an instance where it would make sense.

Boobook sorry but you are wrong the caller pays the connection fee for the 1300 number the business pays the rest, read my post above as I said, I own a 1300 number.

Well there you go. I have never had any 13xx mobile call blocked in 20 odd years. The point about the Iridium satellite call is still valid.

If the 13 owner blocks mobile calls then yes Iridium 040x numbers will also be blocked. But then I guess they wouldn't want any travelers to contact them if they block all mobile calls.

Yes, I wanted to clarify this because it all seems a bit confusing. I think we have nailed it now though.