Inmarsat today announced the launch of its award-winning global satellite handheld IsatPhone Pro in Japan. The trusted IsatPhone Pro will be available to Japanese users from the beginning of August 2012.
Japan's largest mobile carrier NTT DOCOMO, Inc. will deliver IsatPhone Pro to the Japanese market in partnership with JSAT MOBILE Communications Inc., a joint venture between Inmarsat and SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation which is Asia-Pacific's largest satellite operator and is also Japan's largest DTH broadcasting platform operator, SKY PerfecTV!
Inmarsat's IsatPhone Pro offers the ultimate combination of global coverage on the world's most reliable satellite network, a robust handset, and the longest battery life available in the market, with eight hours of talk time and up to a hundred hours of standby time.
In addition to essential satellite telephony, data, text and email messaging, IsatPhone Pro provides GPS location and social media services. IsatPhone Pro users can send their GPS location, and access Twitter from anywhere in the world using the handset's short messaging service (SMS) function.
Eiichi Yoda, President and Chief Executive Officer, JSAT MOBILE said: “The interest in satellite phones for business continuity and disaster recovery has greatly increased after the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. It is our pleasure to respond to customer demand by introducing Inmarsat's IsatPhone Pro in Japan. We feel that this will be a very significant opportunity.”
The introduction of IsatPhone Pro addresses the growing demand among Japanese customers for an easy-to-use handheld satellite phone. The service complements NTT DOCOMO's existing mobile satellite services portfolio, centred on Widestar and Widestar II.
Commenting on the announcement, Lizzie Greenwood, Asia-Pacific Director, Global Government, at Inmarsat said: “We are excited to partner with such a world-leader as NTT DOCOMO to launch IsatPhone Pro in Japan. This is a key market for Inmarsat and launching IsatPhone Pro here is an important milestone for us.”
IsatPhone Pro is poised to be a major enhancement to solutions for disaster preparedness, aid mobilisation, and other mission-critical communications requirements. “Mobile satellite communications provide vital back-up and lifeline connectivity. In times of emergency or when terrestrial communications are down, satcom services could help save lives and significantly mitigate the impact of natural catastrophes on business continuity,” she continued.
JSAT MOBILE Communications Inc. is a joint venture company formed in 2008 by SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation and Inmarsat Solutions (Canada), Inc., formerly known as Stratos Wireless Inc. to serve the mobile satellite communications needs of business and government agencies in Japan. JSAT MOBILE provides the Japanese market with the latest Inmarsat broadband mobile satellite services, including BGAN, FleetBroadband and Global Satellite Phone Services with a wide range of value-added services to help customers achieve optimal performance and cost efficiency with their communications. For more information, please visit www.jsatmobile.com.
NTT DOCOMO is a world-leading integrated-services company centered on mobility. The company serves over 60 million mobile customers in Japan via advanced wireless networks, including a nationwide 3G network and one of the world's first commercial LTE networks. Leveraging its unique capabilities as a mobile operator, DOCOMO is a leading developer of cutting-edge technologies for NFC mobile payments, mobile GPS, mobile TV, intuitive mobile assistance, environmental monitoring, smart grids and much more. Overseas, the company provides technical and operational expertise to eight mobile operators and other partner companies. NTT DOCOMO is listed on the Tokyo (9437), London (NDCM) and New York (DCM) stock exchanges. Please visit www.nttdocomo.com for more information.
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organisations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,500 staff in more than 40 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. For the year ended 31st December 2011, Inmarsat plc had total revenue of US$1,409 million and an EBITDA of US$854 million. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com/about.
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Inmarsat
Cynthia Ritchie
Vice President, Marketing Communications
+44 (0)20 7728 1564
E: [email protected]
Rice Communications for Inmarsat
Donna Garcia/Kavita Balakrishnan
+65 6221 8045
E: [email protected]
