FTMSC Offers New Pricing Programs

France Telecom Mobile Satellite Communications (FTMSC) announced two new pricing programs for Connexion by Boeing's maritime service offering to encourage commercial shipping companies to make the switch to affordable, global high-speed communications. The first is an evaluation program for those customers who wish to experience the service before making a long-term commitment. Under this program, customers can try the Connexion by Boeing high-speed Internet service -- 2000 minutes of data access, 100 minutes of voice service, live global television (upon introduction in the fourth quarter) and access to the Connexion by Boeing online service management tools -- for four months. At the end of the evaluation customers can simply return the equipment, or take advantage of financial incentives to convert to a standard service agreement.

The Connexion by Boeing maritime service provides data rates up to 256 kbps from a vessel to the satellite and data rates of 5 mbps from the satellite to a vessel. The high-speed data rate allows multiple, simultaneous users to access the Internet, corporate intranet and email, as well as obtain additional information for vessel management such as weather, routing and port information.