[SatNews] Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) has certified the first Iridium 9602 Short Burst Data (SBD) Transceiver-based partner devices, opening a broad number of emerging new markets with solutions enabled by Iridium data connectivity.

These solutions – including applications for tracking assets such as cargo, ships, aircrafts and people – are certified by Iridium to operate on the world’s only global, mobile voice and data network. The Iridium 9602 is smaller, lighter and lower-cost than its predecessor, which increases the return on investment for global satellite two-way machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. The transceiver serves as the data communication enabler for a wide range of portable tracking and monitoring devices, leveraging Iridium’s global coverage and low-latency, two-way data links.

Iridium 9602-based solutions recently certified for use over the Iridium global network include:

• Cubic Global Tracking Solutions GS-5L (San Diego, Calif.) – supports a variety of smart applications for tracking and monitoring the temperature, environmental conditions, location or maintenance needs of critical assets throughout their lifecycle. Alerts when specific conditions (such as cargo route deviation, sensor limits, equipment faults, tilting or tampering) are sensed to ensure reliability. Includes advanced mesh technology being deployed by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
• Latitude Technologies SkyNode® S100 (British Columbia, Canada) – a small, light and cost-effective aircraft certified flight tracking and two-way data communication and messaging solution with global visibility. The solution provides security and crew safety for air/ground logistics applications enabling global visibility and allowing more cost-effective flight operations.
• Marine Instruments Fishing Buoy M3i (Spain) – the M3i with echo-sounder buoy locates and monitors fish by transmitting GPS position, water temperature, battery status and echo-sounder information that indicates the presence or absence of fish.
• NAL Research SHOUT Nano (Manassas, Va.) – a handheld, global, two-way satellite messaging and personal tracking device. It utilizes Iridium SBD service to provide location information, two-way inbound and outbound status, text messaging, and emergency/alert notifications.
• Spidertracks Spider S3 (New Zealand) – an aircraft emergency location system for light aircraft and GA pilots. The Spider sends location information continuously, tracking the aircraft in real time and sending automatic SOS alerts in emergencies to help find people fast.

M2M data services is a high growth business area for Iridium. The company’s third-quarter 2010 financial statements, released in November, reported that M2M data subscribers represented 27 percent of billable commercial subscribers, an increase from 23 percent during the same period last year. According to a report published by TMF Associates in November 2009, the number of active low-data-rate mobile satellite devices is projected to grow from about 1.5 million at the end of 2009 to more than 3.1 million by the end of 2013, a compound annual growth of 21 percent.