The new InReach Messenger is Garmin’s most affordable InReach device to date. Garmin is no stranger to device- or app-based satellite communication.
On Tuesday, Garmin revealed the addition of the Garmin InReach Messenger gadget and a companion app to its InReach line-up.
People who frequently travel without cellular coverage can use Garmin’s InReach series of satellite phones to connect with friends, family, and emergency personnel.
The $300 device known as the InReach Messenger has a modest display. You can send and receive messages using InReach Messenger when connected to your smartphone or on its own. This includes sending an SOS message to the Garmin International Emergency Response Coordination Center.
You can communicate with specific contacts or in groups when it’s connected to the Messenger app. Whether it is cellular, Wi-Fi, or satellite, the app will automatically choose the optimal network to deliver the message through.
The InReach Messenger weighs 4 ounces, measures 3.1 by 2.5 inches, and has a battery life of 28 days. It is also IPX7 approved for immersion in up to 1 metre of water. If your phone dies and you need to use Messenger, you can use the tiny gadget to charge your phone so you have enough juice to make an emergency call.
You must download and use the free Messenger app on the recipient’s mobile device in order for them to receive any messages you send through the Garmin Messenger app. The standalone Messenger app is free to use.
For many years, Garmin has offered satellite communication products. In fact, when I tried the InReach Mini earlier this year, I almost had to use it to call for assistance after deciding to hike in really deep snow despite being woefully unprepared and underdressed.
App InReach Messenger
Photo: Garmin
Therefore, the InReach Messenger isn’t a direct response to Apple’s new Emergency SOS via satellite, which will be available on all models of the iPhone 14 starting in November.
However, Garmin’s timing was impeccable. Thanks to Apple’s announcement, satellite communication via a smart device is a hot issue right now. The discussion will undoubtedly attract some people who seek broader and more advanced features from a satellite communication product.
I have no doubt that Garmin’s solution has more features based on my prior experience with a Garmin InReach device and what Garmin claims to be achievable with Messenger.
It does, however, come with a monthly subscription that starts at $15 and, to some extent, mandates the use of a backup device.
However, Apple’s service is free for the following two years and is already included in the iPhone you currently own.
Of course, there are benefits and drawbacks to that. For instance, whether you use satellite communication or not, you cannot send any messages if your iPhone’s battery is dead.