New contract-free plan for satellite communicator on your smart phone

by Jim Rhodes/Sail-World Cruising on 26 Mar 2014 One of this year's Pittman Award Winners, an Inreach satellite communicator (See Sail-World story), has announced a new development that could be a winner for part time cruisers: contract-free plans, and you can get them on your smart phone.

DeLorme today announced a new contract-free subscription plan for its line of inReach satellite communicators. This is the first time contract-free plans are available for a consumer-affordable satellite communicator with GPS. The new Freedom Plans are designed to make it easier for more people to experience inReach on boats, providing peace of mind for family and friends and making communication possible in remote locations.

'The launch of Freedom Plans is in response to feedback from our customers who want to use their inReach devices multiple times per year but not necessarily several months in a row. Freedom Plan subscribers can pay for inReach satellite service only when they need it on a monthly basis, making it much easier for more people to use inReach throughout the year,' said Jim Skillings, vice president of commercial products for DeLorme.

'Freedom Plan subscribers can suspend their service when not in use and still retain access to their data, such as messages and tracks from previous trips. This flexibility in subscription plans will make owning an inReach even more appealing and accessible to a wider group of boaters, aircraft pilots and outdoor enthusiasts.'

All four plans come with Freedom offerings:
The company is now offering four distinct plans – safety, recreation, expedition and extreme – instead of three, for greater flexibility and convenience. It has also enhanced several of its plans with expanded options, such as unlimited preset messages for the safety plan and unlimited text messages for the expedition plan.

The newly-created extreme plan offers unlimited use of all the product’s features, including the ability to have two-minute tracking intervals instead of the standard 10-minute intervals. All four plans are available in the standard annual contract or the newly-launched Freedom offerings. The Freedom plans require a minimum 30-day commitment and start at $14.95 per month for the safety service and go up to $99.95 per month. Perfectly suited for the year-round user or for consistent peace of mind, the company’s standard, annual contract plans offer a lower monthly cost and start at $11.95 per month and go up to $79.95 per month.

In addition to sending and receiving 160-character text messages to any cell number or email address anywhere in the world, inReach provides GPS tracking and interactive SOS features, using the Iridium satellite network for 100 percent global coverage without any black-out zones or fringe areas. The rugged, award-winning inReach SE is waterproof, dustproof and impact resistant to withstand harsh environments and includes a color screen, virtual keyboard, slim design and long-lasting internal battery.

Users can easily share their trip with family and friends, allowing them to ping and message the device between tracking intervals, and always receive a delivery confirmation for sent messages. inReach also pairs with mobile devices to access topographic maps from DeLorme and U.S. NOAA charts.

'Sailors often venture into places where cellular phone coverage is not available. Until now, satellite communication services have been perceived as unaffordable or over-complicated. So whether it’s an emergency or just an urgent need to communicate with those back home, we believe our new Freedom Plans will help more consumers realize that they can afford an inReach, and they should make it part of every boating experience,' said Skillings.

About DeLorme:
DeLorme is the innovation leader in personal satellite tracking, messaging and navigation technology. The company’s flagship product, inReach, is the most affordable satellite communicator that sends and receives 160-character text messages, provides GPS journey tracking/sharing with family and friends, and offers interactive SOS capabilities anywhere in the world through the Iridium satellite network. When paired with a mobile device, the seamless inReach experience provides unlimited access to free downloadable topographic maps and U.S. NOAA charts. Founded in 1976 and recognized as a pioneer in mapping products, DeLorme is headquartered in Yarmouth, Maine, and is home to Eartha, the world’s largest revolving globe. To learn more, visit www.delorme.com.