Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) announces that its new satellite data transceiver is ready for market one month ahead of schedule and the company is now accepting orders. The Iridium 9602(tm) short burst data (SBD) transceiver is lower cost, smaller and lighter than the company's previous model, the Iridium 9601(tm) transceiver.

The new form factor is driving the design of many new global Machine-to-Machine (M2M) data communications solutions by a wider range of Iridium development partners serving broader markets. The culmination of a two year R&D collaboration among Iridium and its technical partners, the Iridium 9602 two-way device is designed to be embedded into partner-developed products and systems that enable remote M2M asset tracking and monitoring. It offers the same reliable, real-time critical communications service that Iridium has delivered since the inception of its SBD service — the company plans to deliver through its nexgen satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. More than 90 Iridium partners have tested the Iridium 9602 for integration into new products. Planned Iridium 9602-based applications include telemetry from unattended sensors, fleet management, enterprise logistics and supply-chain visibility, tracking soldiers and military vehicles, and personal two-way navigation and mapping.