This is the best handset produced for use with the Iridium Satellite network. Now, before I go on gushing about how it has inbuilt GPS and can transmit your location from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world, or how you can make a call and send SMS in the backest of back country wilderness, let me remind that this is a satellite phone, so a few caveats apply:
1. You must have a clear view of the sky and have line of sight to the satellite. The phone may work ok in thin cover or out from a window, but performance will be inconsistent.
2. Iridium was designed in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Back then, a 28.8k modem was considered to be screaming fast. I am sure 2.4k data speeds from outer space sounded really cool back then, but today it is not really practical for anything other than short text messaging.
3. The equipment is designed for people who need remote communications. Period. There is no camera, no music player, no appstore, nothing you would expect from a modern smartphone.
That said, the handset is easy to use. Just power up, wait for a signal and make a call. From power on to calling takes about 30 seconds. SMS is a little more complex, but no more than on old style flip phones. Iridium's SMS service is send and receive and the satellite network will queue incoming SMS until you are in range of a satellite. The voice quality is nothing to get excited about, but considering the fact that the signal is flying through space, the clipping/compression is tolerable. The 9575 has the best audio quality of any other previous Iridium equipment. And look at it this way, you can tell all your friends, "hey, I'm calling you from my satellite phone". Sort of a way to relive the early days of cellular from the 80s.
Battery life is excellent. The phone can standby for a couple of days and give hours of active use. Spare batteries are easy to come by. Try to do this with an iPhone.
The one drawback is the requirement to carry around a special end piece to charge the phone or use data. The piece is not as rugged as the phone and prone to getting lost. No end piece, no battery charge, no phone home.
As far as phone build quality, I could hammer nails with mine. I probably won't considering what I paid for it, but if you need something that can just be tossed in a backpack or worn on a toolbelt, this is the product for you.
As far as dust/water protection goes, the phone is excellent. It is "jet water resistant", so if you'd like to take it to the airport and hold it in front of a 747 exhaust during a hurricane, the phone will survive. Good to know. Seriously, the phone is protected against rain/spray ingress. It is not waterproof, so if it goes in the water it's finished, but for virtually any condition imaginable, this phone will be fine.
If you need a phone that can make a call from just about anywhere, this is your answer. Of all the handheld satphones, Iridium Extreme has the best balance of coverage, features, and ergonomics. You really feel like the phone is ready for anything.
