Fergie's Tech Blog

Reports of Iridium's death greatly exaggerated?

W. David Gardner writes in TechWeb News:

Iridium Satellite has been quietly muscling its way into the nascent in-flight voice and data market, offering its narrowband service globally. Earlier this week, the firm announced that El Al Airlines is fitting seven 747-200 Boeing aircraft with Sky Connect Classic Iridium satellite phone systems.

The narrowband service is not head-to-head competition to Connexion by Boeing, which is equipping several non-U.S. airlines with its broadband service. However, the satellite service is seen as having some advantages over broadband.

"We're global, we're light weight, and we don't cost so much," said Iridium spokeswoman Liz DeCastro Rhodes. "We talked with several partners at the Paris Air Show last week. You'll see more announcements soon." She said Iridium already has a majority market share of corporate jet communications.

posted by Fergie @ 6/23/2005 03:34:00 PM