TOKYO-The Japanese government has begun development work for a 40-billion-yen (US$317 million) futuristic mobile communications system using a geostationary satellite.If the technology is adopted by cellular carriers, handheld satellite mobile phone users in every part of Japan will be able to communicate with each...
In the summer of 1989, one of my favorite bands, the B-52s, released an album with the big hit-tune "Roam," in which singer Kate Pierson encouraged listeners to "roam around the world." Well, it took me nine years, Kate, but I finally took you...
WASHINGTON-Iridium L.L.C. announced that five additional satellites were launched Feb. 18, following several delays caused by unfavorable upper-level winds, said the company.The satellites were carried on a Delta II rocket launched from the Space Launch Complex-2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The...
With technology advancing at lightning speed and telecommunications becoming a powerful engine of the global economy, the International Telecommunication Union has found itself learning to cope in a brave new world where private-sector politics are replacing nation-state diplomacy as the driving force in worldwide...
OrbcommOrbcomm Global L.P. said it successfully launched eight satellites Dec. 23 from the Wallops Island Flight Facility in Virginia. Based on results of testing that is about half finished, Orbcomm expects to offer commercial service next month with a constellation of 10 satellites.Tests show...
Coverage is king, says Iridium North America, which is aiming to help cellular and personal communications services operators offer wireless coverage anywhere in the world.Iridium L.L.C. is a Motorola Inc.-led consortium expected to offer global voice, paging and fax services via a constellation of...
Iridium L.L.C.-the Motorola Inc.-led consortium expected to offer global voice, paging and fax services via a constellation of 66 low-earth-orbit satellites by September-announced it has secured the U.S. Department of Defense as its first customer.According to the consortium, the military will buy a gateway...
CALABASAS, Calif.-Iridium North America named Skysite Communications Corp., a subsidiary of U.S. Digital Communications, its North American distributor for the new Iridium satellite-based global wireless communications network.Skysite will offer Iridium products and services to target industries including transportation, exploration, media and government. The service...
Iridium L.L.C., the international consortium working to establish a 66-satellite network for a global wireless personal communications network, announced it intends to launch and operate an additional constellation of 96 low-earth-orbit satellites to provide global advanced digital two-way voice and data communications.The company recently...
WASHINGTON-While wireless local loop technology is taking off in such countries as South Africa, Great Britain, India and China, the United States continues to lag behind in deploying what could be the most cost-effective, time-sensitive means of providing everyone in this country with dial...
NEW YORK-U.S. Digital Communications Inc., Calabasas, Calif., is a classic example in action of the old saying, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going."After seven years of bad luck trying to develop and market Web TV under the name of VisCorp, the...
NEW YORK-As the new year approaches in the horse race that is commercial deployment of low earth orbit mobile satellite systems, "we're still at the first half-mile, with the finish line at 2000," said Timothy Logue, a satellite analyst for Coudert Brothers, Washington, D.C.There...
Boston Communications Group Inc. signed a corporate agreement with Sprint Spectrum L.P. to provide wireless roaming services to personal communications services customers roaming within Sprint PCS' coverage areas. Boston's Roamerplus service allows non-Sprint PCS subscribers traveling within the Sprint PCS network to place calls...
WASHINGTON-Most of the wireless industry still has not seen the entire Federal Communications Commission report to Congress on spectrum auctions, released Oct. 9, but those who have agree the commission is pushing for additional powers.Eighteen companies and organizations-including most of the industry's associations, a...
WASHINGTON-Though legislation to privatize the world's two multigovernment international satellite consortia is unlikely to move until next year, firms are moving ahead aggressively to lock in new mobile satellite service spectrum to position themselves for uncertain competition.Last week's hearing on a bill to restructure...
WASHINGTON-Iridium L.L.C. launched seven satellites on a proton rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.The satellites are part of a 66-satellite wireless personal telecommunications network designed to permit any type of telephone transmission worldwide including voice, data, fax and paging. The first five...
WASHINGTON-Motorola Inc. has revealed a plan to build, launch and operate a satellite-based video and data network aimed at going head-to-head with the Bill Gates/Craig McCaw-backed Teledesic Corp. Paperwork filed at the Federal Communications Commission June 13 asked permission to compete against Teledesic on...
NEW YORK-Iridium World Communications Ltd., which plans to launch a satellite-based global telephone and paging service, went public June 10, raising $240 million in an offering of 12 million shares of Class A common stock at $20 per share.Iridium plans to begin offering service...
WASHINGTON-The United States is honing preparations to press for additional global mobile satellite spectrum at the World Radiocommunication Conference this fall in Geneva, but prospects appear more promising for big low-earth-orbit mobile phone systems than for little LEO data systems.The U.S. delegation, led by...
"The market for universal phones may prove more limited than trade hyperbole suggests," argues one analyst in response to industry buzz about satellite-based global telephone service-fueled by the successful launch May 5 of the first group of Iridium Inc. satellites."Extolled by the Iridium satellite...
NEW YORK-South Korea's telecommunications marketplace is in the throes of a gradual but deliberate deregulation that is presenting opportunities and challenges for SK Telecom Co. Ltd., the largest wireless carrier."Korea will be almost wide open with free competition, but Korea is different from the...
NEW YORK-The successful launch May 5 of the first six of 55 planned Iridium Inc. low-earth-orbit satellites is a good omen for the fledgling global mobile satellite service industry.The success of that initial deployment after several delays would be an important but preliminary milestone...
NEW YORK-Some 32 nations, companies and professional organizations have become initial signatories of an agreement to facilitate deployment of new global satellite systems by joining the International Telecommunication Union Memorandum of Understanding on Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite.Earlier this month, the signatories met...
NEW YORK-Iridium L.L.C., which plans to launch a satellite-based global telephone service, last week registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission for an application to take the company public.Iridium, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda, is an indirect subsidiary of Motorola Inc., which formed the satellite...
