Extremely disappointing experience
Extremely disappointing experience – poor phone, unusable SIM service and terrible support.
I bought this satellite phone and SIM card because I needed a reliable communication solution, especially for travelling and sailing in remote areas. Unfortunately, the entire experience has been a complete disappointment.
The most serious problem is that the phone cannot reliably receive incoming calls. For a satellite phone, this is simply unacceptable. The whole purpose of such a device is to have a dependable means of communication when normal mobile networks are unavailable.
Even worse, the problem has still not been solved despite several contacts with customer service. Instead of providing a clear and effective solution, I received repeated troubleshooting instructions and explanations, while the basic problem remained unchanged.
I can call Inmarsat numbers, including the Inmarsat voicemail, from my Swisscom mobile phone without any problem. Swisscom is the largest mobile provider in Switzerland. Therefore, blaming the mobile network is hardly a convincing explanation. The issue clearly appears to be related to the handset, SIM card, configuration or service provided.
What is particularly frustrating is that I specifically purchased this equipment for safety and communication during sailing trips. A satellite phone that cannot reliably receive incoming calls is practically useless for this purpose and can create a serious false sense of security.
Because the issue was not resolved before my departure, I am now forced to consider buying another phone despite already having paid for this device and SIM service.
My experience so far:
• Incoming calls do not work reliably
• The SIM/phone configuration appears to have serious problems
• Repeated support contacts without solving the issue
• Too much troubleshooting pushed back to the customer
• No satisfactory solution despite the urgency of the situation
• A very expensive product that does not perform one of its most basic functions
For a product that is marketed as a reliable communication device for remote areas, this level of service and reliability is simply unacceptable.
Based on my experience, I cannot recommend either the phone, the SIM service or the customer support. I expected a professional satellite communication solution. Instead, I received an expensive device that I cannot trust when I actually need it.