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Iridium Satellite Llc News

16 Mar 2015

IMSO Starts the Evaluation of Iridium

On February 4, 2014, the IMSO Director General launched an Consultancy Program inviting appropriate experts to assist in the evaluation of mobile satellite communications systems for the GMDSS. The IMO Maritime Safety Committee, at its 94th session in November 2014, agreed that IMSO should undertake the technical and operational evaluation of the Iridium mobile satellite system to assess compliance with the relevant criteria for recognition as GMDSS satellite provider, noting that IMSO would convene a Group of Experts from the abovementioned Consultancy Program. IMSO has formalized an agreement with Iridium Satellite LLC to perform such technical and operational evaluation and the IMSO Director General has reported progress to the IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation…

06 Jun 2012

Pirate-proof Communication System Launched by Beam

Beam’s new PotsDOCK Extreme Covert Piracy Solution utilizes the Iridium Extreme satellite handset and the Beam Covert Antenna system to provide a dedicated system for a safe room or citadel on board a vessel. The system ensures that essential communications on board the vessel, such as the ability to alert authorities in the event of a piracy attack, can be maintained even if all power or communication equipment has been cut off or destroyed by pirates. The system couples the Iridium Extreme handset and the Beam Extreme PotsDOCK to provide the captain and crew with access to voice communications, tracking and alert functionality from the system. In the event of an attack, an alert can be raised and the vessel can be tracked immediately.

08 May 2012

Telstra commits $1.5M for Iridium Equipment

Beam receives a $5 M commitment from Telstra for Satellite Docking Stations and Iridium Handsets. Beam Communications Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of World Reach Limited (ASX: WRR), announces it has received a commitment from Telstra to purchase a minimum of USD5.1 M of Iridium based satellite docking stations and product bundles over the next 12 months. The initial shipment (valued at USD1.65 M) is expected to be fulfilled by 30 June 2012, the balance being called upon as required over the 12 month period.

14 Jul 2009

Iridium, Telaurus Support Filming Expedition

Iridium Satellite LLC (Iridium) and Telaurus Communications LLC (Telaurus) have teamed to provide satellite communication equipment and services for a six-month Northwest Passage Filming voyage. The voyage got underway from Rhode Island on June 13, 2009 and will end in Seattle on Oct. 31, 2009. The voyage’s vessel, the Bagan, is equipped with an Iridium OpenPort high-speed maritime communications terminal and Telaurus Se@Comm software. Iridium OpenPort enables the Bagan to transmit voice and data communications in the Arctic Region where no other service is available, including services based on geostationary satellites. So, the captain and crew of the Bagan are able to speak on the phone at the same time, even during data transmission.

23 Jun 2009

Iridium OpenPort Wins Award

Iridium Satellite LLC and Cambridge Consultants announced that Global Telecoms Business (GTB) has awarded its 2009 GTB Innovation Award to the two companies for excellence in the Wireless Network Infrastructure Innovation category. The award recognizes the groundbreaking Iridium OpenPort system, which is the world’s first and only global high-speed voice and data service for the maritime market. With its small footprint and light weight, the Iridium OpenPort omni-directional antenna array can be quickly installed in any convenient location on deck. It does not require a stabilization platform and is virtually maintenance free. With no moving parts, the array reduces the risk of failure or downtime and lowers the total cost of operations.

05 Feb 2009

CLS Installs First Iridium-Based LRIT Terminals

Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) announces on Feb. 3 that it has sold its first Iridium-based compliant Long Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT) terminals in partnership with Iridium Satellite LLC. CLS is a provider of satellite-based environmental data collection, location and ocean observation services. Through the CLS-Iridium partnership, CLS also delivered corresponding LRIT Conformance Test Certificates on behalf of the flag administration. The new SOLAS LRIT regulation requiring LRIT capabilities went into force December 31, 2008, and applies to all passenger and cargo ships above 300 gross tons. For months, shipowners worldwide have been testing their onboard equipment for compliance with IMO Circular MSC.1/Circ.1296.

05 Feb 2009

January Lakes Coal Trade Cut in Half

The stumbling economy took its toll on the Great Lakes coal trade in January. Shipments totaled only 778,971 net tons, just half the volume of a year ago, and certainly one of the slowest Januarys in recent memory. With the Lakes now largely closed by winter, the low January coal total could come back to haunt the nation if power plants find themselves short of coal. A recently-released study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found that Great Lakes shipping annually saves its customers $3.6b in transportation costs compared to the land-based modes. However, all U.S.-Flag lakers are now in winter lay-up and undergoing annual maintenance, so the fleet would not be able to meet any demand for coal until March at the earliest. Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) announces on Feb.

23 Oct 2003

AMOS Connect Basic Version Available for Iridium

Xantic has announced that the basic version of AMOS Connect is now capable of working over the Iridium platform. A free of charge CD of this premium quality email service can be ordered from Xantic’s website or the software can be directly downloaded and installed. By optimally handling ship/shore satellite communication, AMOS Connect basic offers substantial cost savings of up to 85%, both Ship-to-Shore and Shore-to-Ship. It provides an ultra-efficient satellite communications protocol, including error correction, which is specifically designed for ship-to-shore communication. Use of the AMOS Connect basic version with Iridium shows data throughput rates on the Iridium network of up to 4.8 kbps.

25 Mar 2004

Iridium Debuts Global Sat Fax, Enhanced Messaging

Iridium Satellite LLC announced the launch of a new satellite fax service that will permit subscribers to send and receive faxes from any location in the world directly to and from any standard fax machine, as well as connect WiFi networks to Iridium. The Iridium fax service supports inbound and outbound faxes through the uniHub™ interface, which has been developed by On-Go, Inc. of Bethesda, Maryland, USA. UniHub is a plug-and-play solution that extends the functionality of Iridium satellite phones, to include fax and other data services such as WiFi integration. For inbound and outbound faxes, the Iridium phone is connected via uniHub to any standard fax machine or fax modem. Call setup and routing are totally automatic and transparent to the user.

17 Dec 2001

Iridium Satellite Predicts Constellation Life Span to Extend Through Mid-2010

Iridium Satellite LLC announced that it predicts its constellation of satellites will retain mission functionality into the next decade, based on internal analyses of satellite and operational data, as well as an external study by an independent company. Iridium contracted with The Aerospace Corporation of El Segundo, Calif., to conduct the study, based on several years of actual on-orbit reliability data provided by Iridium. Incorporating assumptions of planned future software and operational improvements, the analysis indicated that the Iridium constellation would likely remain viable into the next decade. "Based on our observations and The Aerospace Corporation's analysis, we are confident that the Iridium satellite constellation will deliver services to customers through mid-2010.

22 Apr 2002

Iridium Introduces Crew Calling

Iridium Satellite LLC announced the availability of crew calling services for the maritime industry. Iridium's crew calling solution simultaneously supports pre-paid calling for individual crew members and subscription services for a vessel's official communications. Iridium's new crew calling program allows vessel owners and operators to provide both official and personal communications from a single phone. Vessel operators can provide pre-paid scratch cards to individual crew members to allow for personal calling. For official business, the captain and crew can use the same phone for subscription-based calls. Beginning immediately, Iridium will offer the new crew calling services through its global network of service providers.

07 May 2002

Iridium and Telstra Sign Deal

Iridium Satellite LLC announced that Australia's Telstra Corporation Limited has signed a service partner agreement to market and sell Iridium services. The multi-year deal enables Telstra to retail Iridium services and equipment to strengthen rural and remote communications throughout Australia. Both parties anticipate a new level of interest in Iridium services across the continent's rural and remote regions. Iridium Satellite's CEO, Gino Picasso, said high costs previously posed a major barrier to those entering the satellite services market. Eighty-six percent of the world's landmass and all of its oceans are in areas without wireless or landline service coverage. Iridium addresses the situation by providing coverage in all ocean areas, air routes, and landmasses, including the Poles.

07 May 2002

Iridium Satellite Signs Deal with Telstra

Global wireless communications operator, Iridium Satellite LLC, has signed a service partner agreement with Australia's Telstra Corporation Ltd. to market and sell Iridium services. The multi-year deal enables Telstra to retail Iridium services and equipment to strengthen rural and remote communications throughout Australia. With competitive pricing and complete coverage of Australia, both parties anticipate a new level of interest in Iridium services across the continent's rural and remote regions. Iridium Satellite's CEO, Gino Picasso, said high costs previously posed a major barrier to those entering the satellite services market. Telstra will provide Iridium services on a non-exclusive basis in Australia.

28 May 2002

Xantic, Iridium Become Partners

Xantic and Iridium Satellite LLC have announced the signing of a major agreement by which Xantic will offer Iridium's voice and data services through its worldwide network. The move complements Xantic's mobile satellite offering for customers requiring remote communications solutions. It will also strengthen Iridium's global distribution capabilities. "Iridium's mobile communications services and world-wide coverage complements our fixed satellite offerings," commented Xantic CEO Knut Reed. Xantic serves customers worldwide in multiple markets, including maritime, peacekeeping and aid organisations, oil & gas, government and transportation.

17 Jun 2002

Iridium Satellite Signs Telenor

Iridium Satellite LLC announced that Oslo, Norway-based Telenor Satellite Services has signed a service provider agreement to market and sell Iridium services. Under the agreement, Telenor will offer Iridium's voice and data services through its extensive worldwide dealer network. The agreement further strengthens Iridium's global network and user base while complementing Telenor's comprehensive portfolio of satellite communications solutions. "The addition of Telenor to Iridium's roster of service partners supports our ongoing strategy to provide organizations and individuals with remote communications capabilities that are not available from terrestrial-based wireless services," said Gino Picasso, CEO of Iridium Satellite LLC.

09 Jul 2002

Iridium Aggressively Pursues New Outlets

Iridium Satellite LLC, the company born from the ashes of what was one of the most spectacular and initial telecom failures, has fortified its market position in the past year, aggressively pursuing relationships with companies that will help expand use of its satellite network across all industires. The Alexandria, Va.-based Iridium — which bought the assets of Iridium LLC out of bankruptcy in December 2000, launched global voice services in March 2001 and added ubiquitous Internet connectivity in June — has announced a number of deals with leading satellite communication companies — Xantic, Telenor and France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications — and has launched a new crew calling service for the marine business.

12 Nov 2004

Iridium Approves WCC Comms Solutions

World Communication Center (WCC), a provider of worldwide satellite voice and data communications, announced that its MariTrack SSAS and ComCenter solutions have been approved for commercial sale by Iridium. Manufactured by Applied Satellite Engineering (ASE), WCC’s turnkey solutions provide industry leading product functionalities: online security and encryption, Ontec’s permission-based software features, Iridium’s global satellite technology and WCC’s 24 x 7 live customer support. According to Don Thoma, executive vice president, Iridium Satellite LLC, "The MariTrack and ComCenter solutions passed our rigorous testing and work seamlessly on Iridium's satellite network.

17 Sep 2002

Iridium Announces New Chief Executive

Stephen N. Carroll has assumed the position of President and CEO of Iridium Holdings, parent company of Iridium Satellite LLC. Gino Picasso, President and CEO of Iridium Satellite LLC will remain in his current position and report to Carroll. New President and CEO Stephen Carroll said, "I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Iridium further down the road of success. Before joining Iridium, Carroll most recently was a co-investor with the Soros Private Equity Group where he served as Chairman of Storm Telecommunications of New York and London as well as Chairman of ACCESS 7, a Germany-based VPN/IP telecommunications company. He…

13 Feb 2002

Iridium Satellite Announces Deployment of Spares

Iridium Satellite LLC, which bought the assets of bankrupt Iridium LLC in December 2000, announced the successful deployment of five new spare satellites. This launch marks a significant milestone in the resurrection of the Iridium service and brand. Less than a year after launching commercial service and nearly two years since the original company closed its doors and planned to destroy the satellite constellation, Iridium Satellite has taken a significant step to extending the life of its global satellite communications network into 2010 and beyond. Launched by The Boeing Company on a Delta II launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Feb.

09 Jul 2001

Back in Business -- Iridium Returns Under New Ownership

When Iridium, the $5 billion satellite company, fell into bankruptcy on March 18, 2000, it went down as one of the costliest corporate fiascoes of all time. More than one year later, Iridium is back in business, though under completely new ownership. Iridium raised a few eyebrows and a fair share of skeptics with its decision to launch its global satellite communications services. How could the new company prosper when the previous one — using the same technology had failed? Enter Gino Picasso, the company's CEO. Up front and honest, Picasso says that the new Iridium is no pipe dream. Speaking via telephone from a restaurant near Iridium's Tempe, Ariz. offices, Picasso shared his visions and ideas with MR/EN regarding the future of the new company.

04 May 2001

Iridium Signs Agreement With Sait Communications

Iridium Satellite LLC has signed a non-exclusive agreement with SAIT Communications S.A. top-tier service provider of the only truly global, truly mobile satellite voice and data solution with complete coverage of the Earth's oceans, airways and Polar Regions. SAIT Communications S.A. (Former SAIT RadioHolland) currently provides satellite services for remote maritime, government and military users in Western Europe, the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Asia Pacific and the Americas. SAIT's agreement with Iridium will enable it to provide its customers with a versatile communications service that will address customers' needs to stay in touch when operating in remote locations around the world.

04 Aug 2003

Iridium Launches Short Messaging Service

Iridium Satellite LLC, provider of global satellite voice and data communications, announced that it has launched Short Messaging Services (SMS) to commercial Iridium subscribers. The Iridium SMS service will allow subscribers to send and receive up to 160 characters per message to and from other subscribers anywhere around the globe. Subscribers will also be able to send and receive messages via e-mail addresses. SMS messages sent can be stored up to 8 days until delivered. The service will be supported over the Iridium 9505 handset and the Iridium 9522 L-band transceiver. Iridium plans to make the service available to and from cell phones within the fourth quarter of this year.