Unfortunately, I tend to agree. Anaconda and SatPhone shop have...

Unfortunately, I tend to agree. Anaconda and SatPhone shop have followed suit here in AU with $295 seemingly the new RRP. Perhaps they used the Aussie market as a test case, before going all out in North America?

Unsure if the discount would flow through and hit ZOLEO's margins, but I doubt it would affect Beam's given they've pre-sold so many. The important thing here is that they want the upfront purchase to be as small as possible, so they can get more of that sweet recurring revenue.

It still puzzles me that ZOLEO don't offer an annual plan paid in advance. This is par for the course in Prepaid offerrings, would bring forward cashflow and reduce churn.

The current model is:

Can't cancel for 1st 3 months (3 x $20 minimum subscription ~ 25 messages) + $4 / pm to keep your phone number active. $116 USD first year.

If I want this thing for a trip around Australia, or to go backcountry skiing, hunting etc. I'm inclined to dial it up and down as I need it. (Once the initial 3 months is done).

Of course the other way to sell it is on a contract just like Telstra (or even through them):

https://www.telstra.com.au/coverage-networks/mobile-satellite

You can buy Beam's Iridium GO from the big T on a plan, but I guess ZOLEO isn't an option as ZOLEO are clipping the ticket not Telstra! Still, no reason why you can't use the same selling techniques!

I appreciate that are in the early adopter phase and don't wish to cannibalise ARPU, which sits above $40. I guess the lockdown was a once-off (hopefully) and churn rates are really low, so perhaps I'm too tight to fit into the demographic they're selling to?