Applied Satellite Technology Australia (ASTA), a service partner of Iridium Communications Inc., announced the launch of the new Iridium Extreme™ handset for availability to ASTA customers. This new satellite phone is the most advanced, rugged handset on the market, with the ability to communicate the precise location of users across the globe. ASTA will also make available for purchase the Iridium AxcessPoint accessory that connects Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as smartphones, via Iridium’s global network.
AST Australia’s Managing Director, Henrik Jacobsen says, “We are excited to introduce these groundbreaking new products to our customers. Iridium has always been the gold standard in satellite handheld communication — these new devices add even more value and security for people working around the world, and we’re excited to be able to offer them to our customers.”
Iridium Extreme provides customers a single in-hand solution for voice, data, GPS, SOS, tracking and SMS — enabling them to make the connections that matter, under tough conditions, from the furthest reaches of the planet. Iridium Extreme is the smallest and lightest Iridium handset model ever released. It meets stringent U.S. Department of Defense Military Standard 810F for durability and is rich in capabilities, featuring the first dedicated two-way emergency SOS button on a satellite phone.
Iridium Extreme offers Partner Online Tracking Portals, with fully integrated GPS and location-based service capabilities for web-based location identification and tracking of employees, loved ones or friends. ASTA is bringing this solution to market with ASTA’s On-Sat Track solution, available now for integration and use with the Iridium Extreme.
“Iridium pioneered the satellite phone industry more than 10 years ago with the first handheld, commercial satellite phone,” said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. “Together with AST Australia, this launch is about more than just a satellite phone. While the innovative Iridium Extreme features a series of industry ‘firsts,’ including new, powerful capabilities and applications that work off the Iridium network, we are, at the same time, enabling devices that are already in customers’ hands with the introduction of the Iridium AxcessPoint.”
Iridium AxcessPoint is a lightweight, portable device that connects via USB cable to an Iridium phone (Iridium Extreme or Iridium 9555) to establish a Wi-Fi hotspot. Iridium AxcessPoint provides Wi-Fi enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets and laptops, with connectivity from anywhere in the world through Iridium, the world’s furthest reaching network. Users can begin using Iridium AxcessPoint with Blackberry and Android phones instantly, and will be able to download the new Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web application to their iPhone/iPod Touch, and Windows and Mac laptops to accelerate their email and web surfing experience over the Iridium network. For more information on Iridium AxcessPoint, and Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web software, visit Iridium.com. Iridium AxcessPoint will be available with product availability for laptops, BlackBerry, and Android with iOS to be supported later in the fourth quarter 2011. Iridium AxcessPoint Connect is a downloadable application that turns any Windows laptop into a global Wi-Fi hotspot when connected to an Iridium Extreme or Iridium 9555 phone, enabling compatible Wi-Fi devices to use email and internet. The groundbreaking Iridium AxcessPoint Connect application works with Iridium Direct Internet compression software and can be downloaded by users free of charge at Iridium.com. Standard airtime charges apply for use over the Iridium network. For more information on Iridium Extreme, Iridium AxcessPoint and AST Australia, please visit.