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Spot Gen3 outdoor beacon adds more robust tracking options, improved battery life

It looks nearly the same as it did in 2007, but Spot's outdoor beacon has evolved quite nicely on the inside. Now in its third incarnation, the Spot Gen3 is designed to help wandering argonauts keep their loved ones informed of their location for an even longer period of time. Engineered to be worn by those intentionally heading off of the conventional grid, the Spot Gen3 adds unlimited tracking (enabling wearers to pre-set the device to send tracks every 5, 10, 30 or 60 minutes), motion activated tracking and longer battery life. According to the company, this guy will last nearly twice as long as prior versions, and you can also power it via battery or USB. The downside, of course, is that you'll need to pay $149.95 for the unit itself, along with a required annual subscription plan that starts at $149.99 per year. No one ever said adventuring was a poor man's sport, eh?

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Outdoor Enthusiasts to Benefit From the New SPOT Gen3

SPOT Adds Customized Tracking and Enhanced Power Options to Award-Winning Product Line

SPOT introduces the new SPOT Gen3.

COVINGTON, La., July 29, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPOT LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. and leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, today announced SPOT Gen3, the next generation of the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger™. SPOT Gen3 offers enhanced functionality with more tracking features, improved battery performance and more power options including rechargeable and USB direct line power. SPOT is part of an award-winning product line that provides an affordable and vital line of communication with friends, family and emergency assistance on any adventure, from canoeing to hiking to snowmobiling.

"When outdoor recreationists go off the grid, they have come to depend on the SPOT line of products time after time," said Jay Monroe, CEO of SPOT LLC. "The new SPOT Gen 3 has a significantly improved battery life, enhanced usability and we have added more robust tracking options to help meet the demands our 220,000 plus customers and counting."

New SPOT Gen3 features include:

Unlimited Tracking – Users can pre-set SPOT Gen3 to send tracks at the speed of their adventures with options to send every 5, 10, 30, or 60 minutes.
Extreme Tracking - The features of Unlimited Tracking, but with the added ability to vary the track rate down to every 2 ½ minutes. Perfect for pilots and ultra-outdoor competitors.
Motion Activated Tracking - SPOT Gen3 sends tracks at a chosen rate for as long as the device is turned on and moving.
Longer Battery Life – Approximately twice as long as previous SPOT devices with new power options including 4 AAA Energizer® Ultimate Lithium 8x batteries (L92), 4 AAA Energizer® NiMH rechargeable batteries (NH12), or Line Power with a 5v USB connection.

Around the globe over 2,400 rescues have been attributed to SPOT. SPOT Gen 3 offers the same safety assurance that all SPOT devices are renowned for. With the push of a button, SPOT users can:

Alert for rescue, transmitting an S.O.S. notification with GPS location to GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center.
Check In, letting others know they are OK and have arrived safely.
Track, sharing their GPS location in real-time via Google Maps™.
Message, sending custom messages to family and friends regardless of cell coverage.

SPOT Gen3 is the second new product announcement from the popular SPOT line this summer. SPOT Global Phone was added to the SPOT family in May and ensures users can have 2-way voice connectivity with family, friends and business even when their adventures take them out of cell coverage.

Coverage:

SPOT satellite coverage works around the world, including Canada continental United States, Mexico, Europe, Australia, Northern and Central Africa, portions of South America and North-Eastern Asia as well as hundreds of thousands of miles offshore of these areas.

Pricing and Product Availability Information:

SPOT Gen3 retails $149.95 MSRP plus a required annual subscription service starting at $149.99 per year with upgraded service plans available.

SPOT Global Phone retails $499 MSRP plus a required subscription service from $24.99 monthly.

SPOT is available at retailers nationwide such as REI, Cabela's, Dick's Sporting Goods, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Gander Mountain, Eastern Mountain Sports, Sportsman's Warehouse, West Marine and Bass Pro Shops. For more information on SPOT Gen 3, SPOT Global Phone or a complete list of retailers carrying SPOT products, visit FindMeSpot.com.

About Spot LLC

SPOT LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., provides affordable satellite communication and tracking devices for recreational use. SPOT voice devices use the Globalstar network to transmit two-way communication. SPOT messaging devices use both the GPS satellite network and the Globalstar network to transmit text messages and GPS coordinates. Since 2007, SPOT has provided peace of mind by allowing customers to remain in contact completely independent of cellular coverage, having initiated over 2,400 rescues worldwide. For more information, visit FindMeSPOT.com.

Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of Spot LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.