Tag Archives: Iridium 9555

Satellite communications for yachting enthusiasts

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With the ARC Rally less than 6 weeks away we take a look at the requirements of yachting enthusiasts who want to keep in touch at sea.

One of the most popular requests we receive from sailors is for a satellite phone which not only has the capability to make voice calls but also to send and receive emails and GRIB files. As a result we have put together two sat comms packages for sailors offering a great discount on everything you need to stay in touch at sea with the Iridium 9555 and IsatPhone Pro.

As well as the basic voice capability here are some of the things our customers take into account when choosing a sat phone for use at sea:

 

GRIB Files

Our SpeedMail software (free with our marine packages) gives you access to free GRIB files (requires GRIB viewer). Simply send an email with the area you need the update for and an automatic email will be sent back to you with the GRIB file.

Emails

Some customers need email at sea whether it be for work commitments or just to stay in touch with family at home.  SpeedMail allows you to send and receive emails at minimal cost from your sat phone by compressing data sent and received.

Social media from your sat phone at the click of a button

Social Media

For simple Twitter and Facebook updates our SpeedMail software allows you to keep your followers up-to-date at a minimal cost. Logging onto social networks via the usual website method can cause a lot of data to be wasted because pointless graphics and ads will be downloaded. Once you have set-up your accounts with SpeedMail you can post updates directly from the software at the click of a button. Furthermore, the updates can be queued along with your emails and sent all at one time to enable maximum data compression.

Tracking*

Let your family and friends back home know where you are with the SPOT Satellite Messenger. For an amazing £200 ex VAT GTC offers SPOT with an annual all-inclusive subscription + Track Progress which allows you to send out a message every 10 minutes for 24 hours. SPOT gives you a unique website for your followers to visit and track your movements.

*Not included in GTC IsatPhone Pro Fixed Solution or GTC Iridium 9555 Marine Solution.

GTC IsatPhone Pro Fixed Solution£600 ex VAT GTC Iridium 9555 Marine Solution£1,235 ex VAT
Includes

  • IsatPhone Pro Satellite Phone
  • Pre-Paid SIM with 100 minutes
  • Magnetic External Antenna
  • SpeedMail Email & Web Compression Software
 Includes

  • Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone
  • Pre-Paid SIM with 200 minutes
  • Fixed Mast Antenna with 10m Cable
  • SpeedMail Email & Web Compression Software

Iridium Authorized to Distribute Products and Services in Russia

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Iridium Communications Inc. announces that OOO Iridium Communications (“Iridium Russia”) has received authorization from Russian authorities for commercial operations in the country. Iridium Russia expects to launch service in the second quarter of 2012, once all technical licensing requirements are complete.

Iridium anticipates expanded demand for its products and services in Russia as a result of this authorization for commercial operations. In 2009, Iridium formed Iridium Russia to conduct business in the country due to strong regional interest in its innovative voice and data communications capabilities. Iridium is making a significant, multi-year investment as part of its commitment to the Russian market. The company is actively engaging new and existing distribution relationships in the country to support customer demand.

“Our partners are expressing great enthusiasm for our entry into the Russian market,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. “We expect Iridium Russia and partners to capture at least 40 percent of the mobile satellite services market in Russia by 2015 — which we think could be a $70-100 million market by then. Our network is uniquely suited to serve the Russian market with its ability to provide 100 percent global coverage for organizations, businesses and individuals for voice, data, tracking or other critical connectivity. Through cost-effective satellite communications services, Iridium extends the connectivity available beyond that of local telecom and technology companies serving diverse Russian markets. Iridium enables voice and data connections where traditional commercial networks cannot reach, including many remote parts of Russia and within the Arctic Region. Around the world, our service has become essential to important sectors such as maritime, aviation, emergency response, civil government, oil and gas, mining and transportation. And, Iridium Russia will be able to serve these markets within the country both this year and well into the future thanks to our planned launch of our second generation network, Iridium NEXT.”

“Blue Sky Network is proud to be an Iridium partner,” said Jon Gilbert, president and CEO, Blue Sky Network. “We believe that Iridium’s expansion into Russia will be a tremendous opportunity for both Iridium and our organization, as we seek development and growth into this high-potential and untapped market. With vast and remote regions, the Russian markets present ideal application environments for our combined technologies in aviation and land-based mobile tracking.”

Victor Chernov, acting chief of the State Emergency and Rescue Marine Service of the Russian Federation and head of the State Marine Rescue Coordination Center, said, “Iridium services will allow our operations to remain connected during critical search and rescue missions throughout the whole territory of Russia, and its exclusive economic zone, including such important regions as the Arctic. We are excited to know that Russia is now authorized to offer these services throughout the Russian Federation — this is good news for our country.”

According to Victor Glushko, general director, Iridium Russia, the country will be a strategic growth area for in-region and international service providers able to deliver Iridium products and services to Russian businesses and, specifically, transportation organizations across land, sea and air. In particular, he said, maritime and energy-related services are showing strong demand throughout the region.

First Apple iOS App Available on Iridium

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Free Application Optimizes Email and Internet Services for Faster Data Speeds for iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches Anywhere in the World

Iridium Communications Inc. announces that its Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web App is now available for Apple operating system (iOS) devices. This development makes it possible for devices such as the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch to connect over the world’s furthest reaching communications network, Iridium.

The company launched the Iridium AxcessPoint Wi-Fi hotspot with BlackBerry support, as well as with apps for Mac and Windows laptops, in September 2011. With today’s app rollout, Iridium continues to expand the universe of smartphones that can now communicate on 90 percent of the planet not covered by traditional wireless networks.

“Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web now provides a reliable email and Internet connection anywhere in the world for the more than 250 million Apple iOS device users,” said Joel Thompson, vice president, product management, Iridium. “This first-of-its-kind capability embodies our Iridium Force vision — Iridium’s commitment to extending handheld connectivity in places never before possible and through devices customers already own. More and more we see enterprise, government and NGO organizations requiring connectivity for their employees regardless of their location on the planet.”

The Iridium AxcessPoint Wi-Fi hotspot accessory is a portable and lightweight modem that easily connects devices to Iridium using an Iridium Extreme or Iridium 9555 satellite phone. It is available through the global Iridium partner ecosystem with a suggested retail price of less than $200 (USD). The free Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web App for Apple devices is available on Apple’s iTunes store.

Iridium AxcessPoint app for Iridium Extreme & Iridium 9555 satellite phones

Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web App available now from the iTunes store

Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web features built-in firewall protection to block extraneous Internet traffic providing data speeds up to five times faster for web browsing and 15 times faster for email. This optimization software allows for offline viewing and composition of emails. It also enables configuration and filtering of large data files and attachments, as well as mid-file restart of attachment transfers if required.

Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web is part of the Iridium AxcessPoint suite of products. This Wi-Fi suite includes the Iridium AxcessPoint Wi-Fi hotspot accessory and the Iridium AxcessPoint Connect downloadable application. Iridium AxcessPoint Connect turns any Windows laptop into a global Wi-Fi hotspot when connected to an Iridium Extreme or Iridium 9555 satellite phone.

In order to use the Iridium AxcessPoint Wi-Fi hotspot accessory and Apple iOS app for Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web, users must have an Iridium 9555 or Iridium Extreme satellite phone with a valid subscription. Standard usage fees for airtime are charged. To purchase a satellite phone or Iridium AxcessPoint accessory, visit www.globaltelesat.co.uk. In addition, users should go to www.iridiumaxcesspoint.com to register for the Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web App and receive full set-up instructions for their device.

Iridium Surpasses 500,000 Subscribers Worldwide

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Iridium Communications Inc. today announced that it has reached 500,000 total billable subscribers for its satellite voice and data services worldwide. The number is comprised of approximately 90 percent commercial customers and 10 percent U.S. Government customers.

“Our consistent double-digit growth in subscribers — more than 25 percent growth every year for the last five years — is a reflection of our global network reach, our service offerings enabling important connections, and our expanding partner ecosystem,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. “This milestone demonstrates how far we’ve evolved over the last 10 years from a supplier of mobile satellite phones for niche markets into a global communications company connecting anyone and anything, all over the world, in ways and places in which they expect to be connected.”

Desch noted that one of the primary reasons behind Iridium’s dramatic rate of subscriber growth is the emerging machine-to-machine (M2M) data market. The company’s second-quarter 2011 earnings showed that M2M data subscribers now represent 32 percent of billable commercial subscribers and 21 percent of billable government subscribers.

“Low-data-rate mobile satellite devices are projected to grow by more than 20 percent annually to more than 3.7 million units in service by the end of 2015,” said Tim Farrar, president of TMF Associates. “Iridium’s low-cost short-burst data (SBD) transceiver and partnerships with established world-class players in the mobile data industry will further accelerate Iridium’s already rapid growth in the M2M sector.”

“We are much like our terrestrial mobile communications peers, with data products and services representing the biggest source of incremental growth,” Desch said. “It’s also important to note that our voice products and services are continuing to grow, which we recently highlighted in our Iridium Force personal communications portfolio expansion announcement. We are making inroads into largely untapped enterprise and consumer sectors, while at the same time continuing to grow market share in our traditional vertical segments.”

Iridium NEXT, the company’s next-generation network, will bring even more capabilities and capacity for the company’s growing customer base.

“There is a tremendous potential for continued growth in mobile satellite connections around the world as terrestrial wireless networks cover less than 10 percent of the Earth’s surface,” added Desch. “We do a great job connecting the remaining 90 percent.”

Introducing the new Iridium 9575 Extreme

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Iridium 9575 Extreme

The new portable satellite phone from Iridium - 9575 Extreme

Iridium have today announced their new handset, the Iridium 9575 Extreme.  The new Iridium sat phone is built with the same reliable voice and data capability that users have come to trust from the only truly global satellite network.  In a world first this handset combines voice, data and SMS capabilities with the following new features:

  • GPS-enabled location-based services
  • SOS Emergency Button
  • Online Tracking
  • Accessories to create instant Wi-Fi hotspots

The Iridium 9575 Extreme will be available for £875 ex VAT from Global Telesat Communications.  Find out more at our website.

Bank Holiday August Saver Offers

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Take advantage of our 9-Day Sale on selected satellite phones and trackers this week and receive FREE next day delivery and 1 month extension on Iridium airtime only!

Get one of our amazing August Bank Holiday Package between 22nd August and 31st August and save up to £115! Please call us on 0800 112 3919 and quote Bank Holiday Offers when buying!

Hurry! Our 9 Day Sale ends Wednesday 31st August 2011!

Iridium 9555 Starter Package

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Buy now

Iridium 9555 Starter Package

<<Iridium 9555 + 75 minutes + Peli case>>

Only £850 (ex VAT)

Normally £924 (ex VAT)

Visit our website for more information

 

* Valid until 30 September 2011
* Iridium 9555 £785, 75 minutes worth £99, and carry case £40 (ex VAT)
* Telephone orders only - call us on +44(0)1202 607486

Improved Sat Phone Rental Service

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GTC Rental Sat Phones

The range of rental sat phones on offer from Global Telesat Communications

Here at GTC we have recently made improvements to our satellite phone rental service ready for the summer months.  Our improvements include:

  • No set-up fees
  • Free delivery and collection of the rental sat phone
  • Deposits lowered on Iridium 9555 and Thuraya XT – now just £600
  • Deposit returned to your card within 48 hours of returning your rental
  • 5% off any handset purchase with every rental

With call costs from just £1.50 per minute and rental charges from £35 per week using a sat phone is a cost-effective alternative to the high roaming charges imposed by mobile operators.  And don’t forget…it’s free to receive calls and call charges are the same no matter where you are in the world.

Call us free on 0800 112 3919 now to book your sat phone rental today!

Did you know? We also rent satellite terminals so if it’s fast data transfer you need see our BGAN terminal rental.

Global Telesat Communications supports the Jane Tomlinson Appeal with Iridium 9555 sat phones

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On July 25th, Mike and Rebecca Tomlinson will set off on the Jane Tomlinson Appeal‘s latest challenge. Together with a team of fellow cyclists they will set off on a 2,500-mile bike ride from Istanbul to Leeds.

The Tomlinson family will be joined by family and friends who will also take on the challenge of travelling through 12 countries over 5 weeks. As they travel across Europe you will be able to watch their progress through daily blogs and the latest pictures.

The Appeal to date has raised £3million for children’s and cancer charities nationwide. Through this event they hope to get one step closer to their new fundraising target of £5million.

During their trip the Istanbul to Leeds team will be carrying 3 Iridium 9555’s provided by Global Telesat Communications to use in case of emergency when travelling through areas where traditional communications infrastructure does not exist.  Offering voice, fax and data services this sat phone is great for those needing to keep in touch frequently or just for emergency purposes - but we do hope that no emergency calls will be needed for the cyclists!

Wishing the team the best of luck…

Find out more about their journey: www.istanbultoleeds.co.uk

Members of the team cycling from Istanbul to Leeds to raise funds for the Jane Tomlinson Appeal
Members of the team cycling from Istanbul to Leeds to raise funds for the Jane Tomlinson Appeal

Using Iridium and Thuraya satellite phones for data connection

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For those who frequently require internet connection in remote locations using a satellite terminal on the Inmarsat BGAN satellite network is a good choice with their portable terminals, fast data speeds and very reliable service.

But what about those who will only occasionally want to use a data connection while in remote locations?  It is little known that satellite phones can also provide data services.  Although the speed will not be as fast as Inmarsat BGAN, if you only require need data services every now and then, a satellite phone will suffice and will be a much cheaper alternative to BGAN.  Every Iridium and Thuraya sat phone that we stock is capable of sending emails directly from the phone and the Thuraya SG-2520 even has an in-built browser meaning you don’t need to connect to your laptop to use the internet.

Iridium offers a data speed of 9.6kbps and each Iridium 9555 comes with a USB cable to connect to your laptop making data connections with your sat phone very simple.  Thuraya’s basic data service offers speeds of up to 9.6kbps.  However, their GmPRS service offers enhanced speeds of up to 60kbps (downlink) at an additional fee making data connections with your satellite phone more viable.  With GmPRS you are charged by the volume of data you send and receive rather than the duration of the data call (as is the case with Thuraya’s basic data service).  Uplink speeds are available at up to 15kbps.  The GmPRS service is available on both post-paid and pre-paid data SIM cards.

As with Iridium phones, all Thuraya phones come with the data cables required to set-up your data connection quickly and easily. 

So if you need to send and receive emails or browse the web while on the move a satellite phone could be just what you need.  If you are not sure whether a sat phone or a satellite terminal would best  suit your needs why not contact us with your questions?