Yes, they do, and prices have come down dramatically in the last year. A hand-held satellite phone can be purchased for about $600, complete with a rechargeable battery and various  chargers. Airtime costs have also come down to about $1 a minute, depending on the airtime plan chosen. There are no long-distance or roaming charges. I have used a hand-held sat phone from the pitching, rolling deck of a small boat and never once had a call drop. Sat phones need a clear shot at the satellite to get reception, and there is about a two-second delay, the same as most people note on regular TV satellite reception.

Hand-held satellite phones are great safety features and are getting “smarter” all the time. They have texting and conference-call capability and are now able to send data, although at low speeds. If you’re thinking about acquiring one, do the research to make sure you get the phone and the airtime plan that will do the job you want it to do.