Businesses are getting more and more international every day. The need to keep in touch has spawned a variety of ways to stay in touch from overseas, including GSM cell phones, Globalstar satellite phones, Iridium satellite phones and Inmarsat satellite phones. All solutions have limitations and drawbacks, but satellite phones are more useful in remote places since they don't require cell towers to operate. There are also differences among the different satellite systems; the best one for your business depends largely on your geographic locations and data communication requirements.

If you determine that an Inmarsat satellite telephone system is the best fit for your business, there are still plenty of decisions to make regarding the best combination of products and services for your particular needs.

1. Determine if an Inmarsat satellite phone system meets your needs

2. Compare Inmarsat satellite phone products and service options.

3. Shop around for the best deal.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine how many Inmarsat satellite phones your business needs

Once you've decided that Inmarsat satellite phones meet your needs better than other -- Globalstar, Iridium, GSM cell phones -- solutions, sit down and figure out your business requirements. Decide whether you need several or just one and consider how many minutes you're likely to use a month.

I recommend: Get started at Inmarsat and Humanedgetech for background and information.

Evaluate Inmarsat satellite phone models and phone plans

There are a slew -- Inmarsat M4, Inmarsat Mini-M, BGAN, Regional BGAN, Fleet Broadband -- of Inmarsat satellite telephone products, plans and services to choose from. Research products and services for your business by comparing the offerings of online Inmarsat satellite telephone providers.

I recommend: Try All Road Communications or Satphonestore for an overview.

Rent a phone before buying an Inmarsat satellite phone

Consider renting a phone before buying. Renting is a great way to try out phone systems without suffering buyers remorse if you picked one that doesn't meet your needs. This is also a good option if you only need the Inmarsat satellite telephone system occasionally.

I recommend: Renting is easy at stores like GMPCS Personal Communications.

Browse the Internet for Inmarsat satellite phone providers and buy your Inmarsat satellite telephone

Now that you know what you want it's time to find your best deal. If you've decided that Inmarsat Mini-M services meet your needs better than do Inmarsat M4 services you can concentrate your searches there. Similarly, you can narrow your search to a particular model or type of rental plan. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of websites that sell Inmarsat satellite phones and bundle Inmarsat products and services; take your time and search thoroughly. The extra time you spend searching for the best fit for your business will pay off when you have your system.

I recommend: Sites like Satellite Phones Direct and Outfitter Satellite are good places to start.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask friends and business associates about their experiences with their Inmarsat satellite phone systems; first-hand real-world information from people who use Inmarsat systems can be invaluable.