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Isatphone Satellite Phones

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Inmarsat has been carrying maritime distress and safety traffic since before most people had a mobile phone, and that heritage shows in the handset. The IsatPhone 2 is not the flashiest satellite phone on the market. It is the one that still has charge on day six.

Eight hours of talk time and 160 hours on standby is roughly five times the standby of the Iridium 9555, and it is the reason the IsatPhone 2 is the default recommendation for long trips, emergency kits and any situation where charging is rationed or uncertain.

The trade-off is polar coverage. Inmarsat is geostationary, so it reaches almost everything between about 80 degrees north and south and nothing beyond that. If your route crosses a pole, you want Iridium instead.

Shop the IsatPhone 2Rent one for a trip

Why buyers choose Inmarsat

160 hours standby. The longest of any handset we sell.
Stable voice. A fixed satellite means no handover mid-call.
IP65 and IK04. Rated against jetted water and impact.
Assistance button. Sends an alert with your GPS position.

Coverage

Where Inmarsat reaches, and where it stops

Three overlapping beams cover the populated world and every ocean between roughly 80 degrees north and 80 degrees south. Outside that band, at the poles, there is no service at all, and no plan or antenna changes it.

Inmarsat satellite coverage by beam, showing near-global reach across the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia with no polar service

How Inmarsat compares

Three networks, three different answers, and the right one depends almost entirely on where the phone is going.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column.

 Inmarsat IsatPhone 2Iridium 9555Iridium Extreme 9575
CoverageNear-global, no polar serviceTruly global, pole to poleTruly global, pole to pole
Talk time8 hours4 hours4 hours
Standby160 hours30 hours30 hours
Ingress ratingIP65, plus IK04 impactNot published by IridiumIP65
Emergency functionAssistance button with GPSNoneDedicated SOS to a 24/7 centre
Best forLong trips, emergency kits, coastal and ocean cruisingStraightforward global callingRough handling and emergency use
 This pageView the 9555View the Extreme

Shop Inmarsat IsatPhone

Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 handheld satellite phone — front view of the black handset
Special offer
Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 Satellite Phone Standard Package
$739.00

IsatPhone questions, answered

Direct answer first in every case.

What is an Inmarsat satellite phone?

It is a handset that connects to Inmarsat's geostationary satellites rather than to a cell tower. Inmarsat has run maritime and safety communications for decades, and the IsatPhone 2 is its handheld product: a rugged phone built around long battery life and clear, stable voice calls.

Where does the Inmarsat network work?

Almost everywhere between roughly 80 degrees north and 80 degrees south, which covers every populated landmass and every normal shipping and cruising route. The exceptions are the polar caps. If your work goes above the Arctic Circle or into Antarctic waters, you need Iridium instead.

How long does the IsatPhone 2 battery last?

Inmarsat publishes 8 hours of talk time and 160 hours of standby, which is the longest standby of any handset we sell and roughly five times the Iridium 9555. That is the single strongest reason to choose it: a phone that can sit in a bag for a week of a trip and still have charge when it is needed.

Is the IsatPhone 2 rugged enough for a boat?

Yes. It carries an IP65 rating against dust and jetted water plus an IK04 impact rating, and it is specified to work from minus 20 to plus 55 degrees Celsius. Salt is still the enemy over time, so rinse it and keep it in its case between calls.

Does it have an SOS button?

It has an assistance button that sends an alert with your GPS position to a designated emergency contact or to a coordination service. It works differently from the Iridium Extreme's SOS button, so if a one-press link to a 24/7 rescue coordination centre is the priority, compare the two carefully before choosing.

Inmarsat or Iridium, which should I buy?

Choose Inmarsat if battery life and voice quality matter most and your route stays out of polar regions, which is true for the large majority of buyers. Choose Iridium if you will cross a pole, work in the high Arctic, or simply want one phone with no coverage map to think about.

Can it send text messages?

Yes, the IsatPhone 2 sends and receives SMS, and Inmarsat runs a free web portal so anyone can message the handset without owning a satellite phone. Texting uses far less airtime than calling, which makes it the sensible way to check in daily on a long trip.

Does it work indoors?

No, it needs a clear view of the sky like every satellite phone. For a vessel or a fixed site, a docking station with an external antenna lets the handset work from inside while the antenna does the work outside.

IsatPhone guides in our help center

Step-by-step guides, manuals and video walkthroughs

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Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 handheld satellite phone — front view of the black handset
Special offer
Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 Satellite Phone Standard Package
$739.00

Buyer’s Guide: Why Choose the IsatPhone 2?

The Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 is a favorite among casual explorers and professional mariners alike. To decide if this is the right tool for your kit, consider these three standout features that set it apart from the competition:

Industry-Leading Battery Performance

The single biggest advantage of the IsatPhone 2 is its endurance. It boasts the longest battery life of any satellite phone on the market, offering up to 8 hours of talk time and 160 hours of standby time. For hikers and emergency preppers, this means you can leave the phone on for nearly a week without needing a recharge, ensuring that your line of communication is instantly available in a crisis without the constant worry of a dying battery.

Geostationary Network Stability

Inmarsat operates a network of high-orbit geostationary satellites that remain in a fixed position relative to the Earth. Once you lock onto a satellite signal, the connection remains stable and consistent, resulting in excellent voice clarity and fewer dropped calls compared to Low Earth Orbit systems. While this network covers most of the globe (excluding the extreme North and South Poles), it requires a clear line of sight toward the equator, making it exceptionally effective for open ocean sailing and desert travel.

All-in-One Safety Features

The IsatPhone 2 is built to be a complete safety solution. It features an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance, ensuring it can survive rain, dirt, and humidity. Furthermore, it comes equipped with a dedicated Assistance Button and tracking capability. You can configure the phone to automatically send your GPS coordinates to family or a monitoring center at set intervals, allowing others to track your journey in real-time and send help precisely where it is needed if an emergency occurs.

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