MILPITAS, Calif. (November 20, 2007) –
SPOT Inc. today announced that Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a national
retail cooperative providing quality outdoor clothing and gear, has signed an
agreement to carry the SPOT Satellite Messenger in its retail stores nationally
and online at www.rei.com. The revolutionary new product is designed
to raise the safety factor for millions of people around the world –
particularly outdoor enthusiasts with a vital line of communication to friends,
family and emergency services, independent of cellular coverage.
“REI is the true outdoor gear store that outdoor enthusiasts
already know and trust, and we’re excited to work with REI to get this product
into the hands of some of the people who want it
most,” said Jim Shriver,
National Sales Manager for SPOT Inc. “Whereas GPS devices tell
you where you are, the SPOT Satellite Messenger lets other people know where to
find you. We’re confident that this key difference sets SPOT apart as a product
offering and will prove irresistible to REI customers looking for the kind of
value, utility and peace of mind it affords.”
“SPOT’s unique function and low price point make it a great
extension to our wide selection of personal safety
devices,” said Mike McCarty, Product Manager for
REI.
“Whether you’re a hiker, backpacker or cross-country skier, and
out of cell phone range, the Check-In feature, in addition to Alert 9-1-1, makes
SPOT especially compelling.”
SPOT enables users, based on varying levels of need, to send
messages to friends, family, or emergency responders, and to visually track the
location of the SPOT Satellite Messenger:
Alert 9-1-1 notifies emergency responders of your GPS
location
Ask for Help sends a request for help to friends and
family
Check-In lets contacts know where you are and that you are
OK
Track Progress sends and saves your location and allows contacts to track your
progress using Google Maps™
Weighing just more than seven ounces and priced at REI at less
than U.S. $150, the SPOT Satellite Messenger is ideal for the
growing market of more than 64 million estimated outdoor enthusiasts in the U.S.
specifically for backpacking, camping, hiking, ice and rock climbing, skiing,
snowshoeing or recreational maritime activities.
SPOT is now available through REI, the SPOT - Web site
(www.findmespot.com) and additional retail locations to be announced
soon.
About SPOT, Inc.
The SPOT Satellite Messenger, the world’s first
satellite messenger, uses both the GPS satellite network to determine a
customer’s location and the SPOT network to transmit that information to
friends, family or an emergency service center. SPOT Inc., a subsidiary of
Globalstar, Inc., (NASDAQ:GSAT) provides lifesaving communications technology that allows users
to communicate from remote locations around the globe. Thanks to this affordable, cutting-edge
personal safety device, the company offers people unmatched peace of mind
by allowing customers to notify friends and family of their location and status,
and to send for emergency assistance in time of need, completely independent of
cellular phone or wireless coverage. For more information on how SPOT Inc. is
helping users live to tell about it™ – from disaster
preparedness to outdoor adventure purposes – visit
www.findmespot.com.
About REI
REI is a national
outdoor retail co-op dedicated to inspiring, educating and outfitting its
members and the community for a lifetime of outdoor adventure. Founded in 1938
by a group of Pacific Northwest mountaineers seeking quality equipment, REI
operates retail stores nationwide, two online stores – http://www.rei.com and http://www.rei-outlet.com–
and an adventure travel company, REI Adventures. REI offers products from all of
the top brands for camping, climbing, cycling, fitness, hiking, paddling, snow
sports and travel, including its own line of award-winning outdoor gear and
apparel. While anyone may join or shop at REI, members pay a one-time $15 fee
and receive a share in the company’s profits through an annual member refund
based on their purchases. As an active supporter of the communities in which it
does business, REI is committed to promoting environmental stewardship and
increasing access to outdoor recreation through volunteerism, gear donations and
financial contributions.