With Verizon Wireless and Sprint’s release of the KRZR, life just gets sexier and sexier in the land of mobile phones, but what about the necessary-but-oh-so-utilitarian-looking land of satellite phones?

Effective immediately, satellite phones have joined the world of the beautiful. Globalstar, Inc., a leading provider of mobile satellite phones, has introduced the new GSP-1700 mobile satellite telephone.
The newly designed GSP-1700 telephone is nearly half the weight of the company’s current satellite handset and close to 45 percent smaller. A new lithium-ion battery is designed to provide users with four hours of talk time and 36 hours of standby time. The GSP-1700’s lightweight ergonomic design embodies the ruggedness of the current Globalstar phone while integrating convenience-oriented features such as a new five-mode color display and Bluetooth headset capability. The phone supports six operating languages and is available in three vibrant faceplate colors, using durable high-luster or metallic finishes. The GSP-1700 is being manufactured by QUALCOMM and incorporates a data solution and EV-DO network capability.

Now about those rates...