Russian GPS Alternative Near Completion

Russia has successfully launched another round of GLONASS satellites bringing the grand total to 18 of the navigational units online. "The GPS competitor -- first begun in the Soviet era and only recently revived after years of post-collapse neglect -- is now theoretically capable of providing coverage to the entire Russian territory, with First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov claiming that the first compatible consumer devices will be available in the middle of next year. By 2010 Russia plans to open the system up to outside nations as well, contributing to an eventual three- or even four-system global market"

Comments

I strongly doubt the quality and reliability

[mi]

The joke went like this:

• Q: It does not hum and it would not go up your ass. What is it?
• A: It is a Soviet-made hummer for going up people's asses.

Now, Russia is not exactly like Soviet Union, but it is not entirely dissimilar either. So even if they do provide coverage for other parts of the world and make it otherwise not worse than the current American offering, I strongly doubt, they'll achieve the same quality and reliability reputation as the existing system.

Only the "true patriots" will use the Russian system, unless the government decides to (heavily) sponsor the devices using it and try to ban/tax/discourage the others (in blatant violation of the Free Trade commitments, of course).

Given the limited number of geo-stationary spots

[Yold]

orbiting earth, it's unfortunate that so many countries want their own positioning satellite systems. Its almost certain that global nuclear war would destroy all countries involved in creating their own private GPS-ish networks, so its really too bad that we all can't just share. Brings back memories of the cold-war =(