Globalcom Satellite Phone News and Updates

SPOT Satellite Messenger and Abuse Testing

SPOT Satellite Messenger has been tested against the most common types of abuse. Testers have dropped SPOT twice on all six sides from one meter onto a hard surface. It is not clear at what temperature this testing was observed at. We have been able to tell that dropping it on a boat or on concrete does no damage to the unit. SPOT is a floating device, also. It is rated waterproof for one meter for up to 30 minutes. It is not clear on how reliable the GPS fix will be while floating. In reality a GPS signal is unfavorably affected by water, so there is a need for calm waters to believe this signal could be obtained. As for rough or fast water activities SPOT probably shouldn’t be the only emergency communication. The operating temperature of SPOT is from -40ºF to 185ºF.

posted by Globalcom @ 8:19 AM  

Three Phase Roll-out

Inmarsat joined with Indonesion-based ACeS in September 2006 in its first step into a 3 phase roll out of SPS on a world wide scale. The second phase had started after September 2006 as Inmarsat made a significant investment in SPS ground infrastructure and terminal upgrades. This will help SPS to be initiated over the Inmarsat-4 F1 satellite. It should work seamlessly with ACeS’s Garuda network. This should considerably increase ACeS’s service coverage for their subscribers. The launch for service is currently July 2007. Lockheed Martin has been appointed partner during the third phase of the SPS progect.

posted by Globalcom @ 10:11 AM