WALNUT CREEK, Calif., April 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Globalstar USA/Caribbean, leading providers of satellite-based mobile communications, and Ocean and Coastal Environmental Sensing, Incorporated (OCENS), today announced a new way for sailors to get current weather, ocean and Earth information at sea. Using the Globalstar GSP-1600 phone and data cable and modem drivers (provided on a CD ROM) with the OCENS Station 2000 weather software, customers can quickly and easily access files from OCENS' chart library via the Internet.

OCENS offers a wide range of software, systems and information services geared to delivering the best possible weather and ocean data to the at-sea user. Its core product is the Station 2000 line of weather and ocean information packages. For Globalstar, OCENS has developed special libraries to provide rapid access to Internet weather information covering any ocean region. Software tools permit in-depth analysis of the high-quality weather charts covering any earth region. High-resolution satellite imagery is also available for selected areas.

This application serves commercial and sport fishermen who use weather and temperature information to determine where to fish, leisure boaters who need current weather information, and anyone who requires Earth and weather data while in remote locations.

"The information that can be accessed through the OCENS software gives our customers more control and helps them make strong decisions. The download is quick and current; and that can make the difference between a great trip and a wasted day," said Dennis McSweeney, vice president and general manager of Globalstar USA. "This is just one example of how specialized data applications like this can make an impact across a range of segments."

In the past, sailors had three choices: downloading the information before heading out, depending on spotty coverage from weatherfax broadcasting stations, or purchasing very expensive, bulky satellite communications systems. The GSP-1600 phone is a portable, lightweight alternative and there are no additional costs to use Globalstar Internet Access; the time used is billed at the regular per minute rate used for voice service.

"Working with Globalstar USA/Caribbean has given us a way to offer the most current charts, buoy data, weather advisories and satellite images to boats at sea," said Mark Freeberg from OCENS. "This new application of our software gives all types of marine users a direct link to the information they need from water temperature and tides to storm tracking."

Access to the OCENS database is as easy as using a typical dial-up connection on a laptop. The data transfer runs at 9600 bps and most charts are downloaded in under a minute. Globalstar Internet Access is available in major shipping and maritime areas in the United States, Caribbean, and Canada.

OCENS and Globalstar will participate in the Sail Expo Pacific Show, which begins on April 18, 2001, at Jack London Square in Oakland, California. Demonstrations of OCENS Station 2000 on the Globalstar system will be available and personnel from Globalstar USA and OCENS will be on hand to answer questions and take orders.

About Globalstar USA/Caribbean
As the exclusive Globalstar service providers in the United States and the Caribbean, Globalstar USA and Globalstar Caribbean are responsible for marketing, selling and distributing mobile satellite communications service, including billing and customer care operations, as well as building and operating the United States and Caribbean ground stations, or "gateways," which switch calls to and from the satellite to the land-based public switched telephone network. Globalstar USA and Globalstar Caribbean are wholly owned subsidiaries of Vodafone Group Plc. (NYSE: VOD), which is a partner of Globalstar Limited Partnership (Nasdaq: GSTRF), the partnership of the world's leading telecommunications service providers and equipment manufactures that built, owns and operates the satellite network. For more information visit our website at www.globalstarusa.com.