Satellite Phone

doubt it

Leed
if you put a GSM SIM in you will be able to connect to the GSM network if available, but not satellite.

Yes - Motorola 9500's have sim cards. If you transplant your own into the satphone it will act as a normal phone at normal rates.

This is 100% correct.
I can put the SIM card out of my GSM phone into my Motorola Iridium 9500 Satellite phone.
You'll need to do two things to make it work.
1. Have the SIM card enabled for international roaming.
2. The Sat phone uses the SIM card at credit card size. You'll need to purchase an adaptor card to clip your GSM SIM into to make it fit. (DIck Smith have them)
Beyond that it works.
Note: Check with your GSM service provider for pricing as you'll pay a premium for calls when the SIM is in the Iridium phone.

Trust this helps,
Geoff.

Leed1961,
My gsm sim doesnt work in my iridium sat, presumably because my network provider has some kind off block, for curiosity I might ask them why one day.
Using a gsm sim calls are about double and more for incoming.
Some plans arent too bad now. Mine costs $15pm + 50c per day when connected to the iridium network + calls @ $2 a minute. Free incoming emails for sender/reciever and $1 to send to email addresses.
Dean

Hi. I have a Motorola 9505 which takes the normal sized SIM card. I have my Telstra SIM card enabled for international roaming but not for a satllite plan of any kind & it works in the 9505 (& Iridium) with no problems. Telstra charge me much higher rates of course but since i only want it for emergencies thats just fine for me. Because I don't have a satellite plan I can't get some additional services such as an Iridium mailbox.

Hi All
Thanks for the fast respose to my question. Looks as if I can hook this up thru my normal sim card, (at extra call rates) but not hooking into expensive long term plans. Thanks again. Cheers lee

Has one purchased a Sat phone and / or Sat phone plan from overseas?
If so, where?