SATTRANS Iridium 9555 Office Docking Station certified

We are glad to announce that SATTRANS Iridium 9555 Office Docking Station has been successfully tested and approved by Iridium Communications Inc. for commercial use in connection with the Iridium satellite communications system. The Iridium 9555 Office Docking Station enables Iridium subscribers to use Iridium 9555 satellite phones indoors, where the satellite coverage is not normally available. Any office, home, shelter or similar indoor area can be quickly set up with the docking solution to ensure that the Iridium phone will be connected to the satellite network.

Features:

• Two-mode operation of calls – The docking station provides users with two alternatives of maintaining voice calls over the satellite phone: 1) hands-free mode via the built-in speaker and microphone, 2) private mode via optional handset or earset.
• Data capable via built-in data port (mini-USB) – The docking station allows users to connect the satellite phone to a computer and use all standard Iridium data services, Direct Internet 3 software as well as third-party software and hardware add-on solutions such as OCENS Mail and XWeb, Vizada’s Skyfile, DigiGone Secure Chat and others.
• Standard antenna port – The port enables connecting a variety of commercially available Iridium antennae.
• Charges phone battery – The charging function keeps the satellite phone operational without the need to remove the phone from the docking station and thus disconnecting from the satellite network.
• The desktop stand – The stand will help organize and conveniently place the docking station with the phone on desks or any flat surface
• Easy installation and portability – The product is easy to install and extremely portable, making it possible to move and install at different locations if necessary.

The rigorous certification process completed by Iridium included testing of all standard features of the Iridium phone and services while installed in the 9555 office docking station: voice calling, dial-up data and RUDICS, text messaging (SMS) and short-burst data (SBD).

SATTRANS’ other docking solutions for Iridium include Vehicle & Marine Docking Station for Iridium 9505A and 9555 satellite phones.

Thuraya updates ThurayaECO prepaid plan

Thuraya, a UAE-based mobile satellite operator, updates one of its prepaid offerings — ThurayaECO plan. The plan, which provides discounted calling from 83 countries, will now have one-year of initial validity (instead of 30 days) and $5 of initial credit (instead of $2). The longer validity term is definitely good news for customers, who now will not need to worry about their SIM expiring within days after the initial use (or sometimes purchase).

It should be mentioned that in return Thuraya introduces a $15 annual renewal fee, which wasn’t present before. And the best news — all existing ThurayaECO subscribers will have their accounts renewed for one year (from July 1, 2010) at no charge!

Calling rates have remained unchanged: $0.75/min. to cell/landline phones, $0.50/min. to Thuraya phones and voicemail.

Inmarsat FleetBroadband vs Iridium OpenPort

Panbo – The Marine Electronics Blog has an excellent post comparing Inmarsat FleetBroadband and Iridium OpenPort equipment and services in real time boating conditions. These two mobile satellite solutions, offering high-speed Internet and voice services, are relatively new on the marine market that makes this review even more valuable. Panbo’s authors has been using both systems on one boat sailing from Northeast US to New Zealand and provided detailed accounts on speed of data transfer, voice quality, service up-time, power usage and use of data compression software.

With the price tag of around $5,000 (installation and airtime not included), both FleetBroadband (150-series) and OpenPort can be an affordable but robust option to satisfy communication requirements and tighter budgets of smaller leisure boats and fishing operators.

Read

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.

Test your satellite phone

The annual “Test Your Satellite Phone” week by Iridium is running from May 23 to 28. With the hurricane season approaching fast, all Iridium subscribers are encouraged to make sure their Iridium satellite phones are ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.

• Verify your batteries are in good condition and fully charged,
• Make sure your Iridium account is active by calling the free testing number 00-1-480-752-5105 from your Iridium phone,
• Also check your prepaid balance by calling 2888,
• Review operating procedures for making and receiving satellite calls.

Unpacking Thuraya XT phone

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

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!