Inmarsat, a leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, today launched its new global handheld satellite phone, the IsatPhone Pro.
The new service, Inmarsat’s first global handheld, offers an unmatched specification at the most competitive price point in the market. Extensive testing has shown that IsatPhone Pro has the market’s longest battery life and the most robust handset. More details, and the full specification, are available at www.inmarsat.com/isatphone.
Andrew Sukawaty, Chairman and CEO of Inmarsat comments on the new phone, “With the promotional incentives at launch, our US$500-600 IsatPhone Pro is a “game changer”. This phone gives us price and performance leadership for the remote environment market.
“We have today entered the handheld satellite phone market with a global handset. It targets customers served by Inmarsat for decades, both at sea and in the most remote parts of the global landmass. Our existing satellite network supports it and it uses proven technology customized for use in these environments.
“The IsatPhone Pro is tailor-made for tough use. Rugged, splash and dust proof, and with long battery life, it offers global service from day one. This is the first satellite phone to be built for the Inmarsat network from the ground-up, responding to customer needs, for use in harsh environments.
“Today we have delivered a robust, affordable, professional handset for global users. IsatPhone Pro joins our award-winning portfolio of data and voice terminals. It gives us a full range of services for remote environment communications use.”
IsatPhone Pro offers up to 8 hours talk time and up to 100 hours on standby. The handset has secured an IP54 rating and is dust, splash and shock resistant. It is also capable of operating from -20 degrees C to +55 degrees C, which is the widest temperature range of any satellite phone.
Targeted primarily at professional users in the government, media, aid, oil and gas, mining and construction sectors, IsatPhone
Pro offers high-quality satellite telephony, text and email messaging. Location data can also be viewed and sent in a text message.
The unique design of IsatPhone Pro, including a fully-manoeuvrable antenna, allows the handset to be placed on its side for easy hands-free use via Bluetooth. IsatPhone Pro has an intuitive GSM-style interface with a high-visibility colour screen, and a larger keypad for easy dialling in gloves.
“IsatPhone Pro will undoubtedly shake-up the global handheld market,” said Helen Stalker, Commercial Director for GlobalSatellite Phone Services at Inmarsat. “It’s the best overall proposition in the market. It meets all the fundamental user requirements and Inmarsat provides the best channel support in the industry. We have worked with the best developers, manufacturers and logistics providers to bring IsatPhone Pro to market. And through our 13 distribution partners worldwide, the levels of customer service and support are unrivalled”.
The distribution partners for IsatPhone Pro are AST, China Telecom, Evosat, Korea Telecom, MCN, MVS, Network Innovations, NSSL, RRSat, Satcom Global, Singtel. Stratos and Vizada are the U.S distributors for the new IsatPhone Pro.
Editor’s note: I tested the Inmarsat remote phone system with BGAN satellite terminal and voice handset using both PC and MAC computers. The setups and installations were easy, even for someone with my limited computer skills. Once installed, finding a synchronizing with a satellite was also easy. I followed the directions and then followed the signal strength indicator on the terminal. After the first time subsequent connections were even simpler because I remembered the approximate direction and location of the satellite. It was fun. I was able use my computer with the same speed and access capabilities as I normally did via high-speed a high-speed cable connection. The phone worked better than my standard cable-connected phone. Downloading images and large files was faster on the remote link than the cable connection.If you are in a remote location, and this doesn’t have to be in some inaccessible region of the world, you should look into this type of service.
Inmarsat plc provides global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. The company’s services are delivered through a global network of more than 400 distribution partners and service providers operating in 100 countries.