Get The Most Recent Information Regarding Motorola Grounding Iridium Satellite Handset Launch
Iridium, the satellite handset company, has been working hard to re-invent itself following its 1999 bankruptcy. Last September it returned towards the stock marketplace via a reverse takeover, and has set about raising money for a new fleet of low-earth orbiting satellites.
Within the 1990s Iridium launched with the concept of selling satphones to a broad user marketplace, but was soon overtaken by the mobile mobile phone industry. It became chiefly a niche provider of phones to aid workers and also the military.
Now, Matt Desch, chief executive, believes there could be a big new marketplace to become exploited in tracking all sorts of objects, from trucks and cargo containers to polar bears, by satellite mobile phone .
Iridium was hopeful of getting backing for that $2.7bn project from either the US or French export credit agency
Now there is a snag. One-time parent company Motorola, which spun out Iridium in 1998, is suing the organization for "at least $24.68m", linked to old loan agreements between the two companies. Much more worryingly, Motorola could terminate crucial intellectual property licences for Iridium, which would allow it to be impossible for the firm to run its satellite program.
Without usable IP, there will not be a lot point in building or launching the satellites, even when the money can be raised. Iridium says it's however in talks with Motorola to resolve the issue, but the situation could well wind up in court.
If this leads to delays, its terrible news. Iridium's existing satellites are not getting any younger - they have to be modified in the next four years or so - and other competitors like Inmarsat, Orbcomm and Globalstar are planning rival services.
Iridium shares, which debuted at close to $10 have now lost close to 30 per cent of their value.
The Motorola concern demonstrates once again the dangers of the space business. In orbit, the satellites are at danger of colliding with space junk - 1 Iridium satellite was taken out last year when it crashed with a defunct Russian satellite . On the ground, it risks being hit by the legal debris of its previous financial collapse.
Get The Most Recent Story Concerning Iridium Satellite Phone Distinction In Price Tag
The larger US cell phone companies have tens of millions of customers. Iridium currently (Mar 06) has about 150,000 - 100 times smaller than major cell phone companies.
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The first is Inmarsat. Inmarsat is the original satellite network for military still used by the United States in these days. It's definitely the tiptop among the other orbital satellites and a cheaper budget.
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Some people choose to keep a satellite phone as part of their disaster preparedness kit. An earthquake, hurricane, terrorist attack, or many other things can disrupt both regular landline phone and wireless cell phone service.
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Now, there are some misconceptions when it comes to satellite phones and when you can use them. First not all satellite phone networks have global coverage. Actually, there is only one that has true pole-to-pole coverage, and that is Iridium.
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A satellite phone is a type of mobile phone that, unlike conventional cell phones, provides service virtually anywhere.
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Eventually, many people discover that renting a satellite phone is more convenient for them than buying one. Travellers, explorers, adventurers and many others who need these products will benefit when they opt for rentals.
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Global satellite phone USA, Fort Lauderdale's leading satellite phone communications provider, has announced that the IsatPhone Pro, Inmarsat's first global handheld satellite phone was released.