djaggar: Yes you can, my Iridium number starts with +8816 (I think some start +8817, but they might not be Iridium, I can't remember ) and I just text it like any other number. Because of the prepaid plan I'm on, all texts (incoming and outgoing) and all data is free (calls are about US$1.50 a minute from memory)

Geektastic: 
Do you use a NZ service provider? So far no one I have spoken with has suggested anything but postpay.

djaggar:

Geektastic: 
Do you use a NZ service provider? So far no one I have spoken with has suggested anything but postpay.

I'm not sure what you mean by NZ service provider ... as far as I am aware the only service provider is Iridium ... I buy my plan via satellitephonestore.com but they are just a merchant like any other I think ... they have both prepaid and postpaid plans that appear to be the same through lots of different merchants.

I forgot I actually switched to postpaid a while back (I use an Iridium Go! Hotspot these days), I buy the Iridium Go! Unlimited plan USD$125 per month ... (the Go! is supposedly compatible with the upcoming Iridium Next satellites, however I expect the unlimited data won't be so unlimited when the faster network is finally active)

Geektastic: How do you find the Go unit? It's a cheaper alternative to buy than an actual handset and since I only want something to carry in my vehicle for emergency use where there is no cell coverage (which happens a lot in my work life) or when travelling overseas to places like Laos and Cambodia etc I wondered if that might be a viable solution.

Of course it relies on your cellphone being robust/available/charged but then again it is $600 cheaper than a specific handset.

Geektastic: Those are all good points.

Will it work with any cell phone or is there some app required?

I'm envisioning a scenario where we have a vehicle accident and my phone is lost or destroyed but a client travelling with us has one. Albeit a remote possibility but I am very much the Boy Scout when it comes to this sort of thing - Be Prepared!

Geektastic:

djaggar: Yes you can, my Iridium number starts with +8816 (I think some start +8817, but they might not be Iridium, I can't remember ) and I just text it like any other number. Because of the prepaid plan I'm on, all texts (incoming and outgoing) and all data is free (calls are about US$1.50 a minute from memory)

Do you use a NZ service provider? So far no one I have spoken with has suggested anything but postpay.

djaggar:

Geektastic: Those are all good points.

Will it work with any cell phone or is there some app required?

I'm envisioning a scenario where we have a vehicle accident and my phone is lost or destroyed but a client travelling with us has one. Albeit a remote possibility but I am very much the Boy Scout when it comes to this sort of thing - Be Prepared!

Two apps, one for calls and texts, the other for web and email ...

If you have an accident you press the big red button and the Lone Ranger arrives in a chopper (that bit is free) ... so its effectively a PLB too. If you pay more all hell breaks loose to get you safe depending on how much you pay for Medivac and Search and Rescue ...

If you have an accident where the only thing injured is your cell phone you raise the antenna and it texts your friend and tells them your GPS corordinates ... then you wait for Tonto to arrive on horseback ...

Beccara:

Geektastic:

djaggar: Yes you can, my Iridium number starts with +8816 (I think some start +8817, but they might not be Iridium, I can't remember ) and I just text it like any other number. Because of the prepaid plan I'm on, all texts (incoming and outgoing) and all data is free (calls are about US$1.50 a minute from memory)

Do you use a NZ service provider? So far no one I have spoken with has suggested anything but postpay.

Personally at work and on the boat many people say there is only 1 Iridium provider worth looking at, GMN http://www.globalmarinenet.com/ - Great service and they know their game. The NZ/AU pack's are pretty good for prepaid