Derek

It turns out Globalstar (which is the system I was considering) has stopped selling their prepaid minutes and they no longer have their lowest-cost monthly plan.  So this is on hold for now.  

codycountry - I agree a sat phone wouldn't be used as a normal cell phone replacement.  Partly due to cost, partly because incoming calls are problematic (for several reasons).  Good post.

Sat phones can be rented via the internet, and then they also cost several bucks a minute to use.  They are expensive to rent.  I have used them on occasion for almost a decade in the remote backcountry wilderness (for work) south of Yellowstone NP as a safety back up communication to a VHF/UHF hand held radio that don't work well in those remote locations unless you are on top of a mountain.   The sat phones have saved several lives around here that I know about.   Every hunting outfitter in the wilderness areas here has at least one in camp, and every year they save someone's life or help greatly in extrication of seriously injured or ill people from the backcountry.

They work pretty well indeed, unless the battery goes dead, or you drop them in the spring or creek.  Been there, done both of those.

They don't come cheap, and the need vs the cost is a big factor.  Not for casual phone conversations unless you are wealthy.  I don't carry one on my own nickel. 

I just drove thru Yellowstone today and my cell phone didn't work most of the time.  I don't think it worth getting a sat phone for that minor factor. In fact, I sure like watching the frustrated kids who's cell phones don't work there at most of the Yellowstone attractions.......

Have you considered a Satellite Messenger like the Spot Gen 3 or a PLB 

their are plusses and minuses to both a PLB and a satellite messenger and on going cost. I'm not recommending one or the other but the REI link below might help you decide if one is right for you.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/personal-locator-beacons.html

I considered renting for trips, $35/wk plus air time so affordable for emergency backup (and keep the Verizon phone).  A good option.

Over the last 4 summers we spent a lot of time during our trips outside of AT&T or Verizon coverage, and I often thought a satellite phone could be useful in an emergency.  We spent a 2 1/2 hour stretch in west Texas where I passed several locals on the side of the road out of gas, standing on the cab of their truck trying to get a signal (there was none - nor was there any gas during that stretch).  We did run out of gas in eastern Montana, but we were lucky that time.

My annual renewal for our Verizon phone is coming up and on a whim I started doing research on the various sat phone systems, phones and pricing.  Turns out a used phone would only be a few hundred bucks and either a prepaid card or the smallest monthly plan wouldn't be much more than we are paying each year for the Verizon phone.

So, anyone have experience with these things?