World Communication Center

Iridium Phonebook Tips for this Holiday Season

2009-11-24T12:19:00.017-07:00

Whether your holiday season takes you over the river or through the woods, remember your satellite phone in case of emergency. Here are some quick phonebook tips to keep you connected on your Iridium handheld.

So you don't remember the phone number you need to call? No problem, the Iridium phone has a large phonebook memory and two options to store the contact information. The phone itself allows for 100 entries and the mini-SIM card (155 entries). Perfect for such entries as emergency services or even grandma's house to let her know you are running late and to save a slice of pumpkin pie.

9505A satellite model
To add entries to the phone memory or SIM memory, go to Phonebook > Personal Numbers > Add New Entry > and then follow the prompts. Both phone and SIM card entry is limited to 16 character name and one phone number.

9555 satellite model
Iridium 9555 phone has a bit more funtionality and allows for entries with multiple phone numbers and an email address. To store entries, go to Menu > My Phonebook > New > and follow the prompts. If you'd like to store entries in the SIM card, use the Iridium Phonebook Tool Software instead of the phone itself. See our post on Iridium Phonebook Tool Software for more information. Like the 9505A, SIM card entry is limited to 16 character name and one phone number.

Benefits of SIM Card Memory
What's great about SIM card memory is that you can simply pop-out the SIM chip and take the entries with you. So if your phone gets damaged or you upgrade to a new one, you won't lose your contact information.

Happy holidays everyone! WCC customers can contact our support team anytime 24/7/365 free of charge at 877.223.5075 or helpdesk@satcomgroup.com.

How to Repair Out of Warranty Iridium Satellite Phones

2009-11-10T10:02:00.008-07:00

Do you have an old Iridium satellite phone that is stashed away collecting dust because it doesn’t work? WCC’s repair department can help get it back running and ready for use.

You don’t want to be shocked or disappointed by hidden repair fees, right? So, we start with an estimated repair quote over the phone to avoid miscommunication in the repair costs.

When ready, send in your phone for a formal evaluation and exact RMA quote. Depending on the needed fix, out of warranty repairs can range from $130 - $720 depending on the component that needs repair.

There’s never been a better time than now to get your old phone in for repair. Our trained staff has the ability, supplies, and knowhow to restore your satellite handheld quicker than ever, especially for current production models like the 9505A and 9555 phones. Unfortunately older Kyocera, 9500, and 9505 models are no longer in active production for electronic parts, so there are limited repairs options.

Standard turnaround time for an out of warranty repair is 6 to 8 weeks, but in most cases we can now get a refurbished replacement within 2 weeks. Plus, we’re so proud of our work; all repairs include 90 day warranty!

So, clear off those dust bunnies and make sure your satellite phone works when you need it. Contact us at 877.223.5075, helpdesk@satcomgroup.com, or www.wcclp.com/support.asp.

Permanently disabling the SIM PIN on Iridium sat phones

2009-11-02T12:04:00.002-07:00

The SIM PIN is a great security feature to prevent unauthorized access on your Iridium satellite phone. However, if your phone used for emergencies and you don't know your PIN code, this can be a liability preventing you from making a call for help.

Did you know that you can permanently disable the SIM PIN?

For the 9505 series:
Go to Menu > Phone Setup > Require SIM card PIN > Select "Off" then enter current PIN > Done

For the 9555 series:
Go to Menu > Security > SIM PIN > Disable SIM PIN > enter current PIN > Done

If you are concerned that someone has compromised access using your pre-paid minutes or running up your bill, contact your service provider. WCC customers may call 877.223.5075 or e-mail helpdesk@satcomgroup.com.

Why does my Iridium satellite phone say "Blocked"?

2009-10-02T14:48:00.014-07:00

Ever get the message "Blocked" on your Iridium satellite phone? This happens when the SIM card PIN has been incorrectly entered 3 times. Don't worry, we're here to help you "unblock" it.

First, contact your service provider's help desk for your SIM card's unique unblocking code called a PUK1 code and old PIN number. WCC customers may call 877.223.5075 or e-mail helpdesk@satcomgroup.com.

UNBLOCKING PROCEEDURE

From your 9505A satellite phone:
Dial * * 0 5 * > enter in PUK1 code >press OK > enter PIN code > press OK > re-enter PIN code > press OK. Screen should display "Completed" and the phone will be ready for use.

From your 9555 satellite phone:
On keypad enter * * 05 * and then press the "Green" left button to see the Enter PUK screen > Enter your PUK code and use the 2-way Navi-key to move through the screen > Scroll down the line to "New PIN" > Enter a new PIN or the PIN given by your service provider > Scroll down again to the line "Verify new PIN" > Re-enter new PIN > Press the left soft key for OK > the screen will say "waiting..." followed by "PUK OK, unblocked"

When successful, you will be taken to the main screen while the satellite phone searches for a signal.

IMPORTANT: Please record your new PIN code in a safe but accessible place. If changed from your old number, your service provider will not have a record of it. If it's forgotten, you'll need to intentionally "block" the phone and go through the "Unblocking" process again to recreate a PIN code.

For more Iridium technical support tips and tools, visit www.wcclp.com/iridiumSup.asp.

Iridium Phonebook Tool software

2009-09-22T16:15:00.020-07:00

I finally got time to tryout Iridium's new Phonebook Tool software and was pleasantly surprised about how easy it was to use, especially compared to the old third-party phone book software used in the past.

This new phonebook software not only helps you store important and emergency numbers into your Iridium sat phone, it simplifies the process of transferring phone numbers to/from your 9505A and 9555 Iridium handhelds.

You can also use this software to create a:

master phonebook list to transfer phone numbers to multiple phones
fixed dialing list for 9555 handsets
back-up file of phone book entries to store as a file on your computer.

A download of the Iridium Phonebook Tool Software (Iridium Phonebook Tool.zip) and User Guide are available on www.wcclp.com/iridiumsup.asp.

As usual, our technical support is available for WCC customers free of charge at 877.223.5075 or helpdesk@satcomgroup.com.

The most important thing to remember is, prepare your satellite phone before you need it.

So take the time to use this software and contact us anytime if we can help.

I've got a new Iridium 9555 Satellite Phone, now how do I use it?

2009-08-26T13:03:00.011-07:00

Congratulations on your new Iridium 9555 satellite phone. If you're new to satellite telephones, you might be wondering, how do I use it? No problem, it’s easy and we’re here to help.

First thing’s first…on your Iridium 9555, remove the back to insert the SIM chip in the phone. Then reconnect the battery and let it charge for about 8-10 hours.

Now it’s time to make your call. To use the phone, go outside to get a signal. Be sure to avoid any large obstructions like buildings or dense trees that could block the connection from the phone antenna to the satellites in space. Make sure you extend the antenna and tilt it to the left or right so it is vertical when you hold the phone to your ear. Now press the top button to power on and wait for it to acquire a signal. As soon as it says “registered”, you are ready to place your call.

A great new feature of the 9555 is that it has a default prefix number entry mode so you don’t have to dial 00 before the country code as in previous models. Just enter country code, for the US that is 1, then the area code then phone number.

And that’s it, easy huh? Enjoy your phone and watch for future tips.

More help is available too
If you ever need assistance from your Iridium handheld, you can dial our helpdesk for free 24/7/365 by dialing our short code 7750. But what if your 9555 has inserted a + in front of the 7, what do you do? No problem, just use the right soft key under “Clear” on the right side of the display and remove the +7, then enter 7750. If you don’t want to remember this every time here’s a couple of tips.

Go into the phone settings and turn off the prefix dialing. Under Menu > Setup > Number Entry > No Prefix or

You could enter the helpdesk numbers in the phonebook. The new phonebook can have multiple numbers for one entry so you could put in the short-code 7750 and the landline 1-877-223-5075

Telematics Weekly: Good, Better, Bad — 3 Satellite Companies You Need to Know

2009-08-19T09:55:00.003-07:00

by Alva H. Wright on Aug. 18, 2009, a Telematics Weekly exclusive

Along with the Q2 results there have been many other announcements regarding the health of various satellite data providers for the M2M industry. Below, we review the state of Inmarsat, Iridium Satellite and GlobalStar.

Inmarsat
The successful commercial launch of a third Inmarsat-4 satellite in January has reportedly allowed Inmarsat to provide better global coverage. For Q2 of this year core Inmarsat business climbed 8 per cent to $337M, driven by strong demand for its new maritime voice and data services, Fleet and FleetBroadband. Revenues in the maritime business climbed 5.2 per cent to $177M. Inmarsat also exercised its option to buy distribution business Stratos in April. Stratos is a leader in delivering vital voice, data and IP communications and boasts more than 20,000 customers worldwide.

Noteworthy: According to Andrew Sukawaty, chief executive of Inmarsat, the satellite operator is considering launching either a pan-European radio or TV service in partnership with a mobile phone operator or media company. This would be made possible by utilizing the unique spectrum license it was awarded by the European Commission, which would allow Inmarsat and its partner to offer services to 27 countries across Europe.

Iridium Satellite
The number of subscribers was up 23.9% from Q2 2008 to 347,000. Iridium saw a marked increase in subscriber growth in their emerging M2M market, up 71.4% from Q2 2008. Although equipment sales declined 25.7%, unknown if related to Inmarsat’s acquisition of Stratos, revenue was up 1.2% from prior year quarter.

Noteworthy: The Federal Communications Commission has approved GHL Acquisition Corp.’s purchase of mobile satellite services company Iridium Holdings LLC. The transaction, which the companies announced in September 2008, will take Iridium public. A special stockholders’ meeting is scheduled for Sept. 23 to vote on whether or not to approve the purchase of Iridium. For Iridium, the deal means a $500M capital injection to the satellite company’s coffers and helps advance plans to build their next-generation satellite constellation, which will be partially funded by the Air Force, NASA and several environmental groups.

GlobalStar
Thanks to completing $738M financing GlobalStar still has a heartbeat but no one knows for how long. Q2 results mark a significant downturn. Total revenue was reported at $15.7M, down 68% from the previous year and Net Loss was $13.8M, up 52% from the previous year.

Noteworthy: Shortly after announcing the release of their SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger GlobalStar also announced the exit of its COO, Thomas Colby in July. To date neither announcement has resulted in much fanfare.

Programming Phone Numbers into an Iridium 9505A

2008-05-19T10:50:00.015-07:00

Whether you are on vacation, on a ship in the pacific, or have a mobile command center down-south, there will be a time where you'll need quick access to loved ones, emergency services or home base.
That's where programming names and phone numbers come in handy.

How to Store Phone Numbers on Iridium 9505A

Press "Menu" until you see Phone Book, press "OK"

Scroll to "Personal Numbers", press "OK"

Scroll to "Add Entry", press "OK" Add to either "Phone Memory" or "SIM Card Memory" (see below for difference of Phone vs. SIM card Memory)

Enter Number in International format, press "OK" (see below for international number dialing format)

Enter Name, press "OK"

Enter Location:

Specific Location: Either a one-, two-, or three-digit location number (1-100 for phone memory or 101-255 for SIM memory, and press "OK". You will see "Stored xxx"

Next Available Location: Press "OK" to select the next available location. You will see "Stored xxx"

When finished, press and hold "C" to exit the menu.

What's the difference of Phone vs. SIM card Memory?
You can store phone numbers on your Iridium satellite phone either to the phone itself or to the SIM card. If you store it to the phone, the names and numbers will stay saved even if you swap out the SIM card. If you store the information to the SIM card, you can switch out from phone to phone.

What's international number dialing format?
From your Iridium satellite handheld, dial [00] or [hold down "0" until you get a "+"], [country code], [area code], [local number].
For example, dialing WCC headquarters from an Iridium device: 00 1 480 8576656

Satellite Text Messaging

2008-05-16T10:25:00.014-07:00

Satellite phone popularity is on the rise ever more. They work where traditional and cellular phones do not and are great for back up communications in cases of emergency or natural disaster.

But to some, this convenience can come at a premium. However, just because you need on-demand access doesn't mean it has to cost you.

Welcome satellite text messaging... it's free to receive and discounted to send with the Iridium 9505A handheld pre-flashed with SMS software.

Send a text to an Iridium subscriber for free via:

Web: http://www.wcclp.com/sendTextMsg.asp
Email*: 8816xxxxxxxx@msg.iridium.com (x's represent your sat phone number)

* Make sure your e-mail editor is set to Plain Text

Sending messages from your Iridium 9505A to another Iridium sat phone (9505 or 9500) is also just as easy. Up to 160 characters are allowed. The cost is minimal, so check your service provider for your specific rates.

To send a text message, first program the Iridium Service Center number into your 9505A:

Press the "Envelope" button
Scroll to "Message Settings", press "OK"
Scroll to "Service Center", press "OK"
Enter "0081662900005" or "+881662900005", press "OK

After the Service Center number has been programmed, proceed with the following to send a SMS from your Iridium 9505A

Press the "Menu" button
Scroll to "Message Editor", press "OK"
Enter the destination phone number (preceded by 00 or +)
When complete, display will read, "Message Sent"

Sending a text from Iridium 9505A to an e-mail address:

Press the "Menu" button
Scroll to "Message Editor", press "OK"
Enter e-mail address [space] your message (up to 160 characters including email address), press "OK"
When it asks for "Destination?", dial "00*2" or "+*2", press "OK"
When complete, display will read, "Message Sent"

By default the Iridium will attempt to deliver the message for up to 192 hours (8 days) before deleting it.

Text messaging is practical for those that need to send a quick message to an individual (e.g. "Call Home", "Meet me at the peak", "It's a boy!")

SMS is also invaluable to companies and groups where home-base dispatches to multiple teams in the field (e.g. "meeting canceled", "report to sector 8", "contract approved... proceed with plan".

Access Internet & Make Phone Calls Simultaneously with Satellite BGAN

2008-04-23T18:09:00.000-07:00

Nowadays there is no excuse for not being able to communicate by phone, e-mail, or the Internet. Even in the most remote areas of the world there are tools that allow you to connect. Inmarsat's BGAN units are some of those tools, and great choices too.

Short for Broadband Global Area Network, BGAN allows you to access data at broadband speeds while making phone calls at the same time.

Example industries that use BGAN units are the news media, oil & gas, construction, mining, relief aid, and governments. Even though all of these organizations deploy teams in remote locations, they are still able to communicate back to base by phone broadband Internet.

BGAN units come in terminals or units that can be affixed to your vehicle. Depending on the unit you can get shared data speeds up to 492 kbps and steaming data speeds up to 256 kbps.

BGAN standard terminals are extremely mobile, about the size of a laptop, and relatively light weight. They include: Wideye's Sabre1 and Hughes' HNS 9201, Thrane & Thrane's Explorer family (110, 300, 500, and 700).

There are also two units that you can affix to your vehicle. Those include the Thrane & Thrane Explorer 527 and Hughes HNS 9250.

So just because your upcoming business or leisure trip is in a remote location, you will be able to connect. Check out BGANs.

How to Call an Iridium Satellite Phone from the U.S.

2008-03-28T14:58:00.005-07:00

Need to call someone with Iridium satellite phone? No problem, here's your resource.

Firstly you need to make sure you have international dialing capabilities to dial the country code '881', Iridium's virtual international country code. So now may be time to check with your long distance service provider for access and rates.

Once you have determined that you have international dialing access, here's the format to dial:
011 8816 ### #####

If you are currently using an Iridium satellite phone and would like to call another Iridium sat phone, dialing is just as easy. Dialing format:
'+' 8816 ### #####
or
00 8816 ### #####

And that's all there is to it.

How to Dial from an Iridium Satellite Phone

2008-03-27T16:34:00.019-07:00

At first, dialing from an Iridium satellite phone can seem intimidating, but after learning the quick process, it's quite simple. So let's get started.

From Iridium Satellite Phone - to - US Landline

Make sure the satellite phone antenna is fully extended and positioned straight up when held to your ear and you have a clear view of the sky.

Turn your phone on and allow time for Registration and signal strength to appear on the display

Now it's time to dial your contact. There are two ways to do this. For our examples below we'll be calling our U.S. number.

The easiest way: Press and hold down '0' until a '+' appears on the screen. Then dial the country code, area code, and remaining phone number. (e.g. + 1 480 857 6656)

Easy way #2: You can replace the '+' by pressing '00', then the country code, area code, and remaining phone number. (e.g. 00 1 480 857 6656)

Press the green send button.

You will hear several beeps before connection and ringing.

That's it! Have fun with your Iridium Satellite Phone.

Are Satellite Communications for me?

2008-03-18T10:16:00.002-07:00

Most, if not all, of us reading this have a cell phone. After all, it's about communication right? Whether for safety or just down-right chatting, we seem to have a need to stay connected. But what happens when our primary phone is on the fritz or doesn't have signal? That's where satellite phones come in.

Sat Phones have become so convenient for everyone from the military and Department of Defense to the individual traveler on a sailing trip in the Caribbean or on an ATV in the desert. Use it for primary or backup communication and for the most part any where in the world.

Iridium is the only satellite network that covers the entire globe. But others have specialized coverage, like Thuraya that covers most of Europe, Africa, and the middle east and Inmarsat who's network virtually covers the world.

Not ready to commit? Rentals are a good option when you are new to satellite phones and want to get a feel for how the technology works. World Communication Center, offers satellite phone and Internet rentals on a weekly basis. Here's the link to learn more about rentals, http://www.wcclp.com/rentals.asp.

So if you can't rely on traditional land-lines or cellular coverage and need constant or backup communications, check out satellite; it just might be the right choice for you.