Inmarsat GAN information

There are three primary GAN Services available with M4-satphones:

Voice - Just like the successful Inmarsat Mini-M service, the M4-satphone can offer standard voice services from nearly anywhere in the world. Standard or DECT handsets are available. Broadcast-quality Audio can also be achieved via the Mobile ISDN service.

Mobile ISDN – Provides dial-on-demand, full-duplex 64Kbps ISDN circuit from a compact, battery operated unit. Enables communication of all forms of data through a single RJ45 interface at 64Kbps or 128Kbps using two M4s). Ideally used for file-transfer, Internet access, video transmission (live or store-&-forward), or LAN/VPN access.

Mobile Packet Data - The “MPDS” service provides a cost-effective way to remain “online all the time” by transmitting packets of data up to 64kbit/s. The significance of this service is that the user is charged for the amount of data (Per-Megabyte basis) sent and received, rather than the time (Per-Minute basis) for which they were connected (Voice & ISDN services). Ideally suited for applications such as e-mail, Intranet or Internet access, remote LAN or VPN access, and E-commerce.

ABOUT INMARSAT

Inmarsat was the world's first global mobile satellite communications operator and is still the only one to offer a mature range of modern communications services to maritime, land-mobile, aeronautical and other users.

Formed as a maritime-focused intergovernmental organization over 20 years ago, Inmarsat has been a limited company since 1999, serving a broad range of markets. Starting with a user base of 900 ships in the early 1980s, it now supports links for phone, fax and data communications at up to 64kbit/s to more than 250,000 ship, vehicle, aircraft and portable terminals. That number is growing at several thousands a month.

Inmarsat Ltd is a subsidiary of the Inmarsat Ventures PLC holding company. It operates a constellation of geo-stationary satellites designed to extend phone, fax and data communications all over the world. The constellation comprises five third-generation satellites backed up by four earlier spacecraft.

The satellites are controlled from Inmarsat's headquarters in London, which is also home to Inmarsat Ventures as well as the small IGO created to supervise the company's public-service duties for the maritime community (Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) and aviation (air traffic control communications). Inmarsat has regional offices in Dubai, Singapore and India.

Today's Inmarsat system is used by independent service providers to offer a range of voice and multimedia communications. Users include ship owners and managers, journalists and broadcasters, health and disaster-relief workers, land transport fleet operators, airlines, airline passengers and air traffic controllers, government workers, national emergency and civil defense agencies, and peacekeeping forces.

The Inmarsat business strategy is to pursue a range of new opportunities at the convergence of information technology, telecoms and mobility while continuing to serve traditional maritime, aeronautical, land-mobile and remote-area markets.

Keystone of the strategy is the new Inmarsat I-4 satellite system, which from 2005 will support the Inmarsat Broadband Global Area Network (B-GAN) - mobile data communications at up to 432kbit/s for Internet access, mobile multimedia and many other advanced applications.