Inmarsat and SkyWave Launch Data Service

WASHINGTON, DC /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Inmarsat, a leading provider of global mobile communications services, announced that it is working with partner SkyWave Mobile Communications to develop a new low–data rate tracking, monitoring, and messaging service, planned for launch in Q3 2011.

"IsatData Pro will deliver a significant increase in capability over other services already in the market." Near real-time messages of up to 10,000 bytes to the device, and up to 6400 bytes from the device, will meet the increasing demand for higher data speeds in machine-to-machine (M2M) solutions. "In comparison, other global M2M services currently on the market offer data connectivity at just 270 to 340 bytes."

The new service will support a wide range of security and location-based services in the fast-growing M2M market, from tracking and in-cab messaging for commercial transportation and government fleets to transmitting telemetry information from oil and gas distribution equipment to remote management and control of fixed assets.

SkyWave and Inmarsat will promote IsatData Pro to government users and the road, rail, merchant shipping, commercial fishing, oil and gas, and utilities sectors. Target geographies include the U.S and Latin America, but also China and Russia, two rapidly expanding markets for M2M services.

"This is a new service, with new hardware and new infrastructure, that significantly expands the applications that the Inmarsat system supports," said Drew Brandy, Director of Land Services at Inmarsat. "We see lots of untapped opportunity in the M2M market for a reliable global service that can offer more—more data, more flexibility, and a more reliable network. And as people will see when we launch the service, it will be highly cost-effective, too."

The new service was unveiled at the Satellite 2011 Conference and Exhibition in Washington DC.

"With IsatData Pro, we are introducing a major innovation into the M2M market," said David Sward, VP of Marketing and Business Development at SkyWave. "This will be a global service, with a packet data capability far beyond anything currently out there. Being able to send and receive more data from remote assets will allow better visibility of business operations and manage risks more effectively. It enables organizations to stay in touch with remote assets and workers, where previously this was technically impossible or prohibited by cost."

IsatData Pro is ideal for time-critical applications, and the very low latency of messages transmitted means asset owners and managers can exchange information in near real time. For example, this will be an advantage for sending information to drivers operating in high-risk areas or for receiving error logs from remote equipment or sensors in an emergency.

The IsatData Pro hardware portfolio, manufactured by SkyWave, will include complete terminals for both land and maritime environments, ready for immediate use on mobile and fixed assets. A modem-only version for OEMs and systems integrators will also be available.

IsatData Pro is an Inmarsat trademark used under licence by SkyWave Mobile Communications.

About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is a leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises, and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea, or in the air. The company's services are delivered through a global network of more than 400 distribution partners and service providers, operating in 100 countries. For the year ending December 31, 2010, Inmarsat had total revenue of $1,171.6 million (2009: $1,038.1 million), with an EBITDA of $696.1 million (2009: $594.2 million).

About SkyWave
SkyWave Mobile Communications is a global provider of satellite communication equipment and airtime services for M2M applications. Using the global Inmarsat satellite constellation, our products provide dependable communication, tracking, monitoring, and remote management of fixed and mobile assets. Over the past 14 years, we have designed, manufactured, and shipped more than 400,000 satellite terminals to customers in the transportation, maritime, oil and gas, heavy equipment, utilities and government sectors. Expand your possibilities with SkyWave.