Smartphones sending satellite messages have been a hot topic lately following the announcements from T-Mobile / SpaceX and Apple. However, this has been a feature Garmin has offered for years now, albeit with external hardware. Garmin inReach Mini and Mini 2 were compact and popular options, now the company has launched a new one: the Garmin inReach Messenger.
Unlike the iPhone 14 series, you can use satellite messaging for general text chats and not just emergencies. And you don’t need to manually point it at a satellite. But you do need a subscription, and most of them come with a limited number of messages – just 10 with the basic plan of $ 15 per month, each subsequent message is $ 0.50. This needs further explanation, but we’ll get to that.
The new Garmin inReach Messenger
The coolest thing revealed today may be the Garmin Messenger companion app. It’s a generic chat app that sends messages over Wi-Fi or cellular data when it’s available and via satellite when you’re in the wild. The app will automatically switch from the best method, so you don’t have to worry about checking connectivity first (messaging via Wi-Fi and cellular are free, of course).
Your phone must be connected to the inReach Messenger device to send and receive satellite SMS. However, you can create individual and group chats to keep in touch with friends and family even if they don’t have a device of their own – they’ll need an internet connection, of course, but the app is a great way to reassure them that everything runs smoothly. Previous inReach devices could send SMS, email and even Tweets, but this app should make the user experience easier.
The new Garmin Messenger app can send a message from anywhere in the world
And if things go wrong, Messenger has an SOS button that will put you in touch with Garmin’s International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC), which is operational 24/7 and will get in touch with the rescue services near you.
inReach Messenger is designed for long journeys with up to 28 days of battery life at default settings. This includes sending out a location report every 10 minutes so loved ones can keep an eye on your progress (and so emergency services can find you). The Messenger is IPX7 rated, which means it can survive a 30 minute dip in 1 meter of water.
The device itself is quite simple and has a small display, enough to show incoming messages and guide you along your path if you need to retrace your steps. However, it is primarily intended for use with a smartphone and other Garmin devices: handhelds, marine and aviation equipment, as well as Garmin wearables.
Garmin inReach Messenger is now available for $ 300 from garmin.com, which makes it a cheaper option than the $ 400 inReach Mini 2. And it also has better battery life, the mini only lasts 14 days with location reports. 10 minutes.
Below are the prices for the monthly plans. You can easily subscribe and cancel every month, but you can get a discount if you pay for a full year (for example, security drops to $ 12 / month with a 12-month subscription). Plus, unlimited SOS activations are available with each plan, so even the basic one will be fine if all you want is peace of mind. With each subscription you can also send an unlimited number of pre-set messages for free (eg “I have arrived”, “I am going home”, etc.), only the texts in free format count for the monthly assignment.
| Plan (monthly) | |||
| Safety | $ 15 / month | 10 messages | $ 0.50 later |
| Recreation | $ 35 / month | 40 messages | $ 0.50 later |
| Shipment | $ 65 / month | Unlimited | – |
Note that Garmin uses the Iridium satellite network (you can learn more about its coverage here). In addition to messaging, the network can also provide weather forecasts, but those cost money, especially the more detailed ones aimed at sailors.
If you already have a Garmin inReach Mini or similar device with satellite messaging capabilities, the company is working to add support for some of them in the companion Messenger app, though it hasn’t said exactly which ones or when that update might arrive.
You can download the app for Android from the Play Store and for iOS from the App Store
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