seems like a great piece of tech for keeping in touch with loved ones, etc. i.e. "don't cal SAR honey i'm just running a little behind..."
http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=116
Type & Send: Use SPOT Connect to send custom email and text messages via satellites to your contacts. Create up to 41 character SOS, Help and Check-in/OK messages. Messages will be sent directly to the contact groups you select via email or SMS. You can even post custom messages on Twitter and Facebook. If you encounter problems, you can send custom SOS messages describing your situation, with your GPS position included.