Inmarsat introduces Data Capacity for IsatPhone Pro

Date: 2011.4.15

Handheld satellite phone offers up to 20kbps data globally

16 March 2011, Washington, DC – Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, today announced the availability of a data service on its global handheld satellite phone, IsatPhone Pro.

The new circuit-switched data capability, offering an effective data rate of up to 20kbps, will be provided in the next firmware upgrade to the handset on 31st March 2011.

“IsatPhone Pro is ideally suited for use as a data service,” said Drew Brandy, Director of Land Services at Inmarsat. “The handset design means the IsatPhone Pro can be simply placed on its side with the antenna deployed for connection to the satellite while a micro USB cable connects it to a laptop. And the Inmarsat-4 satellites on which the service runs are, of course, designed specifically to handle data communications.

“We are very pleased with the performance of IsatPhone Pro’s data capability. It is proving to be very robust whether using generic or customised applications. In testing we have actually exceeded 20kbps throughput with plain text email on several occasions. It’s ideal for those people wanting to access emails, jpegs, documents or PDFs,” he said.

In addition to the data capability, the next firmware upgrade for IsatPhone Pro will feature a number of service enhancements.

“IsatPhone Pro has achieved a great deal since it was launched barely nine months ago: winning an award for innovation, gathering fantastic reviews and being used in every single country in which satellite communications is authorised,” said Drew. “But, as today’s announcement shows, we don’t stop looking for ways to enhance the service for our end users. We expect this new data capability to be very well received.”

Following the launch of Inmarsat’s announcement regarding data service for the Isat Phone Pro, The MVS Group announces their own software enhancements to take advantage of the new capabilities.MVS has introduced FlyCarrier 2.6.39 software application for use with the handheld satellite phone, to manage data services such as e-mail. FlyCarrier provides up to 15 times faster e-mail transfers and up to 75 per cent airtime savings compared with uncompressed IsatPhone Pro data speeds.

MVS’ technical engineers have adapted the FlyCarrier system to optimize the phone’s data capability. An IsatPhone Pro firmware upgrade is required, v. 4.0.0, and MVS mail software v. 2.6.39 are both available via MVSnet.net.

Media Contacts

John Warehand
PR Manager
Inmarsat
Tel: +44 20 7728 1579
Mob: +44 7739 778 128
Email: john_warehand@inmarsat.com