Inmarsat, a leading provider of global mobile satellite communications, has announced the commercial availability of its new range of low-cost satellite phone services in the Middle East.

The announcement was made today (September 5) at a press conference hosted by the company in Dubai.

From today, Inmarsat is offering the new handheld IsatPhone service and the fixed LandPhone service through eight distribution partners, a spokesman said. 

IsatPhone, which is the first handheld satellite phone in the Inmarsat portfolio, is a dual-mode satellite/GSM phone that is targeted at business and personal users who travel or work in areas where local telephone networks are unreliable or non-existent.

The IsatPhone handset is lightweight and pocket-sized, and has a rugged design to cope with demanding environments.  The service comes with additional features such as call hold/waiting, call forwarding, conference calls for up to five participants and, in GSM mode, SMS.  The handsets are expected to retail at around $500, with voice call charges expected to cost less than $1 per minute.

LandPhone, a fixed satellite phone service, is designed for use as an office phone, temporary fixed phone or payphone in remote areas.  Also with a robust design, the LandPhone is ideal for multi-user communities, and can be easily transported and set up indoors or in outdoor spaces, he said.

The portfolio of satellite phone services will be completed in early Q4 2007 with the launch of FleetPhone, Inmarsat’s new maritime satellite phone. 

Initially available across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the satellite phone services will be rolled-out globally – following an extensive network and terminal modernisation and development programme – towards the end of 2008, said the spokesman.

“The launch of a new handheld satellite phone is an important move for Inmarsat, and is a strong complementary fit with our existing portfolio,” said Michael Butler, president and chief operating officer at Inmarsat.  “We have entered the market at an opportune time.  We have a compelling customer proposition, with the right balance of form, functionality and cost, and with the support of distribution partners in every market in the service footprint.  Users of satellite phones will be able to experience the reliability and quality of service that has been our hallmark for the last 28 years.  We intend to shake up the mobile satellite phone market and win market share.”

“With IsatPhone, and together with the LandPhone and FleetPhone services, Inmarsat can now offer a one-stop shop for all mobile satellite communications needs, from mobile voice to broadband data,” he said.

IsatPhone and LandPhone will initially be available from eight Inmarsat distribution partners: ACeS, Chinasat, Evosat, Fono, MCN, MVS, Satcom Global and Stratos.  Inmarsat also recently announced the appointment of Axiom Telecom as the logistics and servicing partner for the new satellite phone services.

“We delivered on our promise, made during the BGAN launch in 2005, to introduce a handheld service within two years. Today, with the addition of the first handheld satellite phone to our portfolio, we reaffirm our company's position as industry leader,” said Samer Halawi, vice president, Inmarsat, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.  “The commercial availability of Inmarsat’s new range of low-cost satellite phone services in the market speaks volumes about our commitment to our wide array of customers in the region.”

Halawi added: “The new handheld IsatPhone and the fixed LandPhone will provide a world-class solution for regional businesses and individuals who need to be connected wherever they are, without worrying about the reliability of the local telephone network.” – TradeArabia News Service