Thuraya's results proved so successful with their ThurayaLocateTM service launched in August this year that there are now two more location services — ThurayaAssistTM and ThurayaRelayTM — deployed on the GPS feature built in Thuraya handsets. These services were launched by Geonix, a UK-based location services and equipment provider. Every satellite phone developed for the Thuraya network contains an embedded GPS positioning system, which when initiated by the user, reports the handset’s position to the Thuraya location service providers.

ThurayaAssist clients include corporate, NGOs and government organizations and is a fully manned and managed emergency position and response service available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. When a call comes to the global control center trained security specialists are able to view the user’s location from within 10 meters, anywhere on Earth. Consequently, routine position reports and emergency SMS messages can be relayed up to 10 email addresses and mobile phone numbers of family, friends and loved ones to know where users of ThurayaAssist are. Now specially tailored security information and pre-trip briefings for all countries is provided with unlimited usage to members of the new service for a subscription cost.

ThurayaRelay is a service also for corporate clients, NGOs and government organizations that want to relay position reports, but who wish to manage the response center themselves. A full range of country and region security information continues to be available via access through the website.

Dr. Sven Rohte, Thuraya’s Chief Commercial Officer commented, “We are confident that these enhanced Thuraya location services will be a major step forward in aiding all our customers to report where they are and to have emergency services and travel security advice available to them at all times. Moreover, this is achieved without affecting their privacy. Thanks to the foresight of Thuraya from its inception, every mobile handset we have ever made contains a GPS positioning system — this is unique not only in the satellite world but in conventional GSM mobiles as well. We are delighted to be working more with Geonix, one of our independent third party developers, and believe today’s announcement further reaffirms the strength of our third party developer program.”

David Bland, the Chief Executive of Geonix, added, “We have been delighted by the success and user acceptance of the original ThurayaLocate service, which was recently designated in the top five new technologies available to Aid Agencies worldwide. These new services, developed in response to user feedback, enable us to provide a comprehensive answer to the security needs of the Thuraya customer base.”

 

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