Iridium to introduce iOS satellite access

[jfoster]

Iridium to introduce iOS satellite access point later this year

by Chris RawsonSep 8th 2011 at 10:23PM

If you've found that Wi-Fi, 3G, EDGE, and GPRS don't provide sufficient coverage to siphon the internet into your iOS device, i.e. your Apple iPhone or Apple iPad, you're in luck. According to Network World, Iridium is introducing new access point gear that will enable satellite-based internet access on your iPhone or iPad from pretty much anywhere on Earth.

"The two new devices enable use of data applications on mobile smartphones and tablets that have Wi-Fi capabilities," Network World says, "and the access point bridges the connection over the Iridium satellite network." While Iridium says the service should be sufficient for email and internet access, the sub-dialup 26-27 Kbps speed means accessing anything but the most basic internet services is going to be an exercise in extreme patience.

Connecting the new access point to an Iridium satellite phone allows you to create a local Wi-Fi network, and from there any Wi-Fi capable device should be able to piggyback off the satellite link. It sounds somewhat similar to the MiFi, but with a satellite signal providing data rather than 3G.

AccessPoint should cost "less than US$200" according to Iridium, but it must also be paired with a much more expensive satellite phone, and service will cost about a dollar per minute. The service will roll out with support for BlackBerry and Android devices soon, with support for iOS devices coming later this year. I guess that's good news for anyone who's sailing across the Pacific, driving across the Outback, or caravanning across the Sahara and wants to check in on FourSquare.

 

[todd22123]

I want to be sure I understand what this means for boats sailing across the Pacific. Many of the boats sailing in the last SH Transpac were emailing reports via either SSB or Satellite phone modem, correct? The requirement is either SSB or Satellite phone.

Assuming this service is available for 2012 SH Transpac, boats with an iPad or iPhone could technically email reports without actually having the Sat phone on board. However, the availability of the service will be contingent on the user owning a Satellite phone.

Todd

 

[BobJ]

Todd, my interpretation of John's post is that this would not eliminate the Iridium phone. It might eliminate the need for a laptop if you composed the e-mail on your iPhone/iPad and sent it (via WiFi) through the Iridium phone.

If desired we can continue this on a SHTP 2012 forum thread but in 2010 we only had three boats who sent position reports by e-mail, and that was down to one boat by the end of the race as skippers resolved their SSB issues. Most SHTP skippers want the ability to "group chat" with each other during the race and the SSB is currently the only way to do that.

For the non-SSB boats, the way it worked is the R/C had to receive their reports by e-mail (not by phone call). That could include the skipper calling a shore contact, who then prepared and sent the e-mail to the R/C, or the skipper sending the e-mail directly. The device in John's post may only help with this last option.