I haven't looked at the SPOT's recently, but they are interesting. I did a presentation on communication devices when I was in college around 2008 or so and the SPOT was one of the ones I talked about; along with satellite phones, PLB's, and avalanche beacons. I'm sure a lot has changed in 7 or so years. Though, if I was going to get a device for remote emergency use I would get an ACR AquaLink View - a totally different purpose than the "tracking". Im not planning any tours that would be quite that "remote", though, so using a smartphone should be sufficient. I may go in/out of coverage in spots but I'm not biking in areas totally void of cell coverage. Backpacking and lake exploration, yes, maybe, but not my biking at this point.