Satellite Phone ~ Iridium

Phone IRIRDIUM-9555 Accessories for Iridium-9505

provides global, reliable voice and data for individuals who live and work in areas outside of cellular network coverage, or in places with poor landline services.

Satellite calls can be routed directly from the satellite phone to the Iridium satellites orbiting above a user's location. Global phone satellite service enables users to communicate in any remote regions where wireless or landline networks are limited, nonexistent or developing.This satellite phone also provides an excellent communication tool for homeland security applications. With Iridium service you can stay in touch across seas and time zones, in remote locations and on the go.

The Iridium 9555 is the ultimate in dependable mobile communications. It is a ruggedly built tool, not a toy. It won’t play games, take pictures, or play MP3s. What it will do is work. Everywhere. Without exception. It is engineered to withstand the world’s toughest environments, so the world’s toughest customers can depend on it as a critical lifeline whenever and wherever need takes them. Satellite phones are still struggling to make it into this decade, design wise, but Iridium's Iridium's new 9555 phone is a solid leap forward, with its internalized antenna, speakerphone, improved SMS and email and 30% volume reduction in comparison to its predecessor, the 9505a. It's still a piece Gordon Gekko would feel at home with, but I think we can definitely look the other way on clunkiness when we're uplinking to one of Iridium's 66 low-earth birds to call Mom from the barren Mongol steppe while sipping on yak tea—that's persistence that will never go out of style.

The Motorola 9500 series portable satellite phone provides reliable voice and communications, worldwide. Weighing less than 16 ounces, and with a battery life of 20 hours standby and 2 hours talk, the 9500 series is simple to use, supports multiple languages and is data-capable.

Motorola Satellite Phones

The 9555 design includes a menu-driven interface, making it very user-friendly for customers. Soft keys are utilized to allow for flexible menu choices and ease of navigation. Key features of the 9555 handset include:

# Compact physical footprint for streamlined portability # Intuitive user interface for out-of-the-box functionality # Water, shock and dust resistance for unparalleled durability # Enhanced SMS and email messaging capability # Integrated speakerphone # Headset and hands-free capability # Internally stowed antenna # Mini-USB data port

If you travel to remote locations and conduct business there, then this phone will get you connected. If you merely travel to exotic locations where there's an existing landline or cellular service, then don't get an Iridium phone. No matter how ridiculous the hotel charges may be for a long distance call, odds are it's still cheaper and better-sounding than the same call made through Iridium. As a fetish object, however, the Iridium phone is very effective. People have stoped us anywhere we used it and asked to touch it.

Basic charge includes a flat fee for the first week's hire with a reducing daily rate per week after that (see rate card). To that you only need to add your call charges, a statement itemising calls will be forwarded to you usually within 7-14 days post-hire to reconcile your account.

Iridium Satellite LLC today unveiled its smallest, most powerful satellite phone - the Iridium "9555" - at its annual Partner Conference in Miami, Fla. The innovative, all-new design of the 9555 offers a significantly reduced size, a more hand-friendly form factor, an intuitive user interface, and new features such as an internally stowed antenna. It is compact, light and easy to use, featuring a brighter screen, a speaker phone, improved Short Messaging Service (SMS) and email capabilities, and an upgraded mini-USB data port. The new phone is engineered to withstand and perform well in the world's most rugged, remote and industrial environments, including being water- and shock-resistant. Combined with the only communications network providing truly global coverage, the 9555 delivers the reliable, secure, real-time, mission-critical communications service that Iridium users have come to expect. "The 9555 is yet another example of our continuing investment in our products, services and infrastructure," said Don Thoma, executive vice president, marketing, Iridium. "In designing the 9555, we believe we have responded to our customers' needs. In addition to delivering this sleek new handset, we also are known for excellent network reliability, which is why we offer the Iridium Network Quality Guarantee." Iridium is the only provider of truly global satellite voice and data communications solutions with complete coverage of the entire earth including oceans, airways and even Polar Regions. Iridium customers are organizations and individuals operating in some of the most remote and harsh regions of the world, from distant oil rigs to ships at sea and deserts. The Iridium 9555 utilizes the largest commercial satellite constellation in the world, consisting of 66 low-earth orbiting cross-linked satellites, and operates as a fully meshed network with in-orbit spares. "The 9555 is, by far, the phone that first responders will want to have on hand for backup emergency communications in case of natural or man-made disasters," said Thoma. "Iridium phones are the only handsets that can be used in absolutely any location, in any condition, instead of cellular, landline or radio services that can become inoperable when towers go down or telecommunications infrastructure is compromised. Since the 9555 is lightweight and simple to use, it will be the satellite phone of choice for emergency workers and customers in other remote environments such as the open seas, on rugged industrial sites, and in extreme travel scenarios." "To help us live up to our mission of 'safely bringing the beauty and excitement of adventure to those who pursue it,' we have long relied on Iridium phones during our expeditions," said Mark Gunlogson, president, Mountain Madness, one of the world's top mountain guide services. "Now, having a smaller, lighter phone that still provides that critical lifeline will be a welcome addition to our backpacks as we travel across the globe." The 9555 design includes a menu-driven interface, making it very user-friendly for customers. Soft keys are utilized to allow for flexible menu choices and ease of navigation. Key features of the 9555 handset include: * Lighter weight design - 27 percent lighter than 9505A handset * Compact - 30 percent smaller than 9505A handset * Internally retractable antenna for compact carrying * Illuminated, weather-resistant keypad redesigned for ease-of-use * A menu configurable in any of 21 languages * Enhanced functionality for improved integration of messaging (short email and SMS) * Additional address book fields for more phone numbers, email addresses and notes * Programmable international codes for automatic dialing * Built-in help function * Integrated speakerphone * Mini-USB data port * Standby time up to 30 hours * Talk time up to 4 hours The 9555 handset will be available from Iridium service partners starting in November 2008.

Telephone Review

Althought we have had a chance to write a review about Iridium portable satellite phones in the past, we were pretty motivated to respond 'yes' to Iridium team when they asked if we wanted to run their newest device the 9555 phone through its paces. In order to do a thorough review we took it with us on our travels and made calls in various places where there was typically no cell coverage.

The device itself won't get mistaken for an iPhone - it is many times thicker and has a smaller black and white screen. But what it does do better than any gadget you might read about on popular gadget sites is work everywhere - except indoors. It is a bulletproof device which was designed with users in mind. Iridium execs explain that reliability is key with this phone and so is durability. It seems like it is made of the same material as the black box on an airplane.

When you open the box the phone comes in you are presented with adapters for every country in the world and just trying to figure out which would work in New Zealand presented me with a challenge. Hint - it was of the two-prong variety. So is it easy to use? Dead easy, yes. Our team was impressed with the call quality and it even worked when I went indoors - as long as there wasn't a lot of steel over my head. There is also data modem connectivity I didn't get a chance to try. Other than that there are the standard mobile phone features like SMS, voicemail, address books, etc. As you might expect, Iridium hasn't launched an app store but one wonders if there isn't an opportunity for specialized applications pertaining to the markets they cater to such as military, oil and gas, etc.

If I had to ask for more features, a camera would be high on my list as sending MMS messages from remote locations back to the home office could be useful. Video too is another area the company will have to deal with eventually as there may be an opportunity to stream video or send clips in places only this device has connectivity. Other than that, the Iridium 9555 just plain works. It's looks won't make you the envy of the patrons of your favorite bar or dance club but you will certainly be the popular one later that evening when the party moves to a place with poor or no cell phone reception.

Motorola Iridium Satellite Phone Specification

Phone Documentation and Manuals

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