Iridium vs Thuraya explained (video)

This short video created by Satcomms, in a funny fashion, compares two latest satellite phones from two key competing mobile satellite operators: Thuraya and Iridium. The Iridium 9555 handset, of course, scores big in critical network features: the global coverage and the speediness of network registration and establishing calls. The Thuraya XT phone is richer in phone features, such as a bright color screen and GPS functionality.

The authors failed to mention that Thuraya XT phone has a better protection from harsh environment, and more importantly — Thuraya phones support up to 25 times faster data transfer via satellite compared to Iridium.

By the way, since the XT phone is “satellite only”, it will not work “in the States” with a cellular network as implied in the video. One will need the Thuraya SG-2520 SAT/GSM hybrid phone to accomplish this task.

Unpacking Thuraya XT phone

We received the first Thuraya XT satellite phones to the inventory, check out the unpacking pictures!

Thuraya XT on sale in USA

The new Thuraya XT Satellite Phone can now be pre-ordered in USA & Canada. The price is $999 plus the cost of a Thuraya prepaid plan, otherwise pay extra $199. Thuraya XT phones should be available for shipment in about two weeks, we ship to US, Canada and anywhere in Americas.

Thuraya XT satellite phone introduced

Thuraya will soon update its line of satellite phones. The current SG-2520 and SO-2510 handsets will be joined by the new rugged Thuraya XT handset, which is promised to be “the only satellite phone in the world to meet the industry’s highest criteria for splash and dust resistance and shock proofing”.

Here is some technical stuff:
System: Thuraya SAT only (no GSM like in SG-2520)
Dimensions: 128 x 53 x 26.5mm
Weight: 193 g
Display: 2” / 262K colors
GmPRS (always-on data): 60/15 kbps (Down/Up)
Fax and Data: 9.6 kbps
Battery Life: Talk time up to 6 hours and standby time up to 80 hours
PC compatibility: Windows Vista, XP/2000, NT
External Interfaces: Data Cable (UDC) with USB connector.
Retail price:: ~$1,000

How successful the new phone is going to be is unclear, since it doesn’t really offer any new features except for its rugged case. But new handsets in the mobile satellite industry are rarity, so we are always pleased to see one on the market.

A solo row across the Atlantic with Iridium

This coming December, Katie Spotz, a young American from Ohio, will undertake a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean. After 2,500 miles and 70-100 days at sea, she will become the youngest person ever to row an ocean solo and the first American to row from Africa to South America. With this endeavor Katie promotes safe drinking water projects around the world, that’s why her row is named Row For Water.

Besides other equipment on the boat, she will have an Iridium 9505A satellite phone for communicating with the land crew, updating her event blog and, of course, for any emergency situation (which we all hope won’t happen). So keep tuned to Katie’s blog and Twitter account for updates! Good luck, Katie!

Inmarsat launches ISatPhone

We have another (an quite powerful!) player in the satellite handheld phone business: Inmarsat. Today the UK-based satellite operator and a provider of maritime and portable high-speed Internet data services has unveiled the ISatPhone, its version of the mobile satellite voice service already provided by competitors Iridium, Thuraya and Globalstar. The satellite phone (manufactured by Solectron) will use the capacity of the new Inmarsat I-4 satellite and provide voice and rudimentary data service in parts of Africa, Asia and Australia. Nothing fancy in the legacy handset itself (compared to the new fancy Thuraya phones), which has been inherited from AcES, but Inmarsat is already working on design of a new handset.

Interested? Get a phone or request more info!

A new name in the satphone business?

Well, not so new… at least for the satellite industry. For the first time in its history, Inmarsat plc, a UK-based global satellite operator, announced its plans to offer a handheld satellite phone and voice calls in early 2007. For almost 30 years of its history, Inmarsat has been known mostly for its marine-based and high-speed data solutions.

In partnership with ACeS Ltd., an Asian regional mobile satellite operator, Inmarsat will offer an Ericsson-made handheld satellite phone (based on ACeS R190) and voice calls at rates from 25 cents to $1 per minute. The new system will use three new Inmarsat GEO satellites and, possibly, the older ACeS Garuda 1 satellite.

This move puts Inmarsat in direct competition with other two major players: Thuraya and Iridium and will likely result in lower prices for equipment and voice calls, which even now  rarely exceed $1 per minute.

The new venture is the next step in Inmarsat’s mobile line of products. In late 2005, the company introduced the BGAN service, featuring laptop-sized satellite modems and data transfers of up to 492 Kbps. Inmarsat is keen to use ACeS established distribution channels to market the BGAN products on the Asian markets.

As Gulfnews.com reports, the satellite phone market is a $350 million business with 600,000 subscribers.