New Satellite Phone - Isatphone Pro

Inmarsat will be releasing their new Isatphone in June. This means we should have our stock of this new satphone by then (we will keep you up to date on this). The images look great and the functionality is alot better than the current Isatphone.

The below is from the Inmarsat press release:

'The first images of the IsatPhone Pro have been released to coincide with the announcement of the first call to be made using the new global handheld phone.
The IsatPhone Pro, which will be launched in June, will offer satellite telephony - with Bluetooth for hands-free use - as well as voicemail, SMS text and email messaging. Location data will also be available to the user to look up or send in a text message.
"The first call is a significant milestone, and we're pleased with the voice quality in initial tests," said Helen Stalker, commercial director of Global Satellite Phone Services at Inmarsat.

Robust handset
"IsatPhone Pro is the ultimate combination. It's a robust handset that's easy to use, has long battery life, and offers a reliable global network connection.
"And it's provided by Inmarsat, the market leader, with 30 years' experience in providing global mobile satellite services."
The Isatphone Pro has successfully passed a number of key milestones ahead of its launch in June.

Ground network
The upgrade of Inmarsat's ground network has been completed by Lockheed Martin, and further testing on the integration between the handset and the ground network continues as planned.
The handset itself has been developed by Sasken Communications Technologies, which has led similar programmes for most of the world's top mobile phone operators.
Production of the IsatPhone Pro is being undertaken by Elcoteq, the world's third largest manufacturer of mobile phones, at its facility in Tallinn, Estonia.
Professional users

The Isatphone Pro is targeted initially at professional users in the government, media, aid, oil and gas, mining and construction sectors.'

Source: Inmarsat

How can I display my SIM card phone number on my Iridium phone?

Step 1 - Press Menu until you see "Phone Book", and then press "OK" to select.

Step 2 - Press Menu untill you see "My Phone Number(s)", and then press "OK" to select.

Step 3 - Your SIM card phone number will be displayed.

Step 4 - Press and hold "C" to exit the menu.

BGan Service Update

If you are a user of an Inmarsat BGan device in Haiti and have been having problems connecting or slow connectivity then the below alert may explain everything.

'As you will be aware, the emergency response situation in the island of Haiti is creating higher than normal demand on BGAN services in the region. As such, Inmarsat has taken the necessary steps to immediately provide additional capacity in this region to support the ongoing recovery.

Inmarsat continues to monitor the situation as demand fluctuates and will address further capacity requirements wherever possible. However, we also realise that it may not be possible to serve the requirements of all customers at all times and ask for your cooperation in managing expectations during the post-earthquake rescue period.'

Source: Inmarsat

Broadcast the Haiti disaster LIVE

Due to the recent events in Haiti and the recovery efforts taking place, Streambox Live will be available free to download and use for anyone including: emergency relief organizations, Government/Military, and broadcasters.

Citizen reporters and contributors will be able to send video to the UN, Red Cross, Humanitarian Relief, NGO, Government Agencies, DoD, all major news broadcasters such as: CNN, Fox News, ABC News, NBC News, CBS News as well as local television stations.

Contact us for more info.

Satellite Technology helping in Haiti

Inmarsat's mobile satellite communications are being deployed to support emergency relief efforts in Haiti following the worst earthquake in the region for possibly more than 250 years.
The scale of the disaster was still being assessed as Inmarsat-sponsored aid agency Télécoms Sans Frontières (TSF) dispatched a team from its American base in Nicaragua to provide vital emergency support.

Equipment and personnel
Aftershocks were felt measuring 5.9 and 5.5 respectively, and more were being forecast.
The TSF first response team is equipped with Inmarsat mobile voice and broadband terminals, with further equipment and personnel expected to arrive from the organisation's international headquarters in France in the coming days.
TSF will use Inmarsat BGAN and Mini M to provide essential communications services - a critical requirement for co-ordinating the early stages of the response - for the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO), and other NGOs arriving to assist with relief efforts.
Along with the electricity and water supplies, the country's cellular and terrestrial telecoms networks are down, and Haiti is effectively cut off. Satellite communications now provide the only means for communicating to, and within, the country.

Family members
After the initial emergency response, TSF will offer free calls to the local population, enabling them to contact family members. TSF estimates that up to 5.4 million people in the highly populated country are affected.

The ability of the Inmarsat-4 satellites to dynamically reallocate spot beams to areas of high demand will ensure that spectrum is available to essential government and aid operations in the immediate region.

Source: Inmarsat

FYI Satellite Phones in India

Here's an interesting story about a guy trying to make a difference in the world only to be stopped by some really strange ruling.

'JAIPUR: Andy Pag set out from London three and a half months back to spread awareness about climate change. His mission was to drive around the world in an old, refitted Mercedes bus that ran on biofuel. He travelled through Europe, then Iran, Pakistan and finally entered India through Wagah border. But late on Sunday night, he was picked up by the cops in Pushkar and finally arrested on Monday. And all because he was carrying a satellite phone.

The 34-year-old green traveller, in Pushkar since January 7 after travelling through Jaipur, has been held under section 70 of the Information Technology Act, section 4/20 of the Telegraph Act and section 3/6 of the Wireless Act, all of which carry custodial sentences.

“Carrying a satellite phone in India without the required permission is banned and he was found with one so we have booked him under the Telegraph Act, IT Act and Wireless Act. He will be produced in court on Tuesday,’’ said Hari Prasad, Ajmer’s SP. Conviction under the above sections means a minimum jail term of two years."'
Read the whole article here.

So, lesson to be learned is that, if you going to India with a satphone then please make sure you have the correct license.

Thuraya XT in Stock

We have received our stock of the new Thuraya XT phone. So if you been looking at getting one of these, then don't hesitate to contact us.