NEC E8202 PLANET 1 SATELLITE PHONES (The worlds first 1996)
COMSAT INTRODUCES PLANET 1, WORLD'S FIRST PORTABLE, GLOBAL PERSONAL SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- COMSAT Mobile Communications COMSAT mobile communications (CMC) is a telecommunications company which provides Mobile packet data service.
It was formerly owned by Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications (a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin) but is believed to have been acquired by Teleport of Norway in today introduced the world's first personal satellite communications (PSC (Public Service Commission) Same as PUC. ) system, PLANET 1. Available by mid-1996, PLANET 1 terminals will retail for $2,995, with an all-inclusive (fully terminated) charge of $3 per minute (pending FCC (1) (Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC, www.fcc.gov) The U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications including wire, cable, radio, TV and satellite. The FCC was created under the U.S Approval). The PLANET 1 system integrates cellular and mobile satellite technologies to offer seamless global, personal voice and data communications from a portable, notebook-sized terminal.
COMSAT's PLANET 1 terminal, manufactured by NEC (NEC Corporation, Tokyo, www.nec.com, www.necus.com) An electronics conglomerate known in the U.S. for its monitors. In Japan, it had the lion's share of the PC market until the late 1990s (see PC 98).
NEC was founded in Tokyo in 1899 as Nippon Electric Company, Ltd. , a world leader in electronics, incorporates the functionality of a standard business phone with value-added features such as single-number global roaming, voice/fax mail notification, paging and call-in-absence indicator. In addition to the high-quality digital voice and data capabilities, PLANET 1 will also provide mobile data services such as E-mail, Internet access and short messaging service.
"PLANET 1 meets the immediate need for seamless, worldwide personal communications and is the only truly portable, global wireless service available today," said COMSAT Comsat: see Communications Satellite Corporation; communications satellite.
(COMSAT General Corporation, Bethesda, MD) Formerly Communications Satellite Corporation, COMSAT was a private company that was created by the U.S President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Crockett. This affordable new service will deliver a reliable communications tool for global business professionals and anyone whose needs are not currently serviced by cellular or telephone systems.
"NEC is proud to be involved in the development of the world's first personal satellite communications system. The PLANET 1 terminal will revolutionize global personal communications and make satellite communications more portable and affordable than ever before," said Mineo Sugiyama, president of NEC America. "Moving forward, we are committed to working with COMSAT to make PLANET 1 the standard for global, wireless communications.
PLANET 1 uses subscriber identity module (telecommunications, wireless communications) Subscriber Identity Module - (SIM or "SIM card") A component, usually in the form of a miniature smart-card, that is theoretically tamper-proof and is used to associate a mobile subscriber with a mobile network subscription. (SIM) cards for security and flexibility. These cards provide for consolidation of monthly billing statements for customers using both cellular and PLANET 1 services and can be programmed with pre-determined usage allowance. SIM cards also allow companies to create a terminal pool where multiple employees, each with their own SIM card and billing account, can share a limited number of terminals.
PLANET 1 will provide secure digital communications channels using the high-powered spot beam technology of the Inmarsat-3 satellites. Spot beams allow smaller equipment to be used because they focus a greater concentration of power onto the earth’s surface and are extremely spectrum-efficient because they provide for frequency re-use within each beam, which translates into less expensive per-minute charges. The spot beams also allow for system management unavailable previously on the Inmarsat system. These beams can be re-positioned over land mass areas where there is the greatest demand for services and permit a distinction between national and international calls, enabling new pricing strategies to be devised. Each Inmarsat-3 has five high-power spot beams providing up to 2,200 circuits.
PLANET 1 will be distributed by established cellular and wireless distribution channels.
A proven leader and innovator with more than 30 years of experience in global satellite communications, COMSAT is the first service provider to introduce a complete PSC solution to the global marketplace.
PLANET 1 is the first practical voice, fax and data communications product the international business traveller can use anywhere, anytime, said Traveller H. Kennedy, director of wide area network services and research at Aberdeen Group, Inc. "The terminal design, its size, weight and interface will deliver on the promise of true individual mobile communication."
NEC America, Inc., an affiliate of NEC Corporation, develops, manufactures, and markets a complete line of advanced communications products and software for public and private networks. NEC Corporation and its affiliates worldwide are a $43 billion global leader whose 151,000 employees are dedicated to providing leading-edge computer, communications and semiconductor products and services.
COMSAT Mobile Communications is the business unit of COMSAT Corporation (NYSE NYSE
See: New York Stock Exchange: CQ) that provides mobile satellite communications to maritime, aeronautical and land-mobile customers around the world via the Inmarsat satellite system. COMSAT is the largest shareholder in the Inmarsat satellite communications network of more than 70 global signatories. COMSAT Corporation is a global provider of communications and entertainment products and services.
Planet 1 Specifications
Dimensions 29. 7 (W) x 21. 0 (D) x 4. 2 (H) cm
(11-11/16 x 8-1/4 x 1-5/8 in)
Weight 2.4 kg, including battery
Antenna Type Flat-type patch
Communications Functions
Voice 4.8 kb/s advanced multiband excitation (AMBE) encoding
Fax 2.4 kb/s, Group 3
Data 2.4 kb/s, asynchronous (V.22bis)
Interfaces
Telephone RJ-11 2-wire modular jack
Fax RJ-11 2-wire modular jack
Data Special 14-pin connector Adapter cable (option) converts to 9-pin D-sub miniature (female)
Interface ITU-T V.28 (RS-232C)
Data Rate 2,400 b/s
Data Bits 8
Parity None
Stop Bits 1
Power
Battery Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion
AC Adapter/Charger Universal (90 to 260 VAC, 50/60 Hz)
AC Operating Temperature -25° to 50°C (-13° to 122°F)
AC Charging Temperature 0° to 40°C (32° to 104°F)
Battery Talk Time 1.2 hr
Battery Idle Time 4.5 hr
Environmental Requirements
Operating Temperature - 25° to + 50°C ( - 13° to + 122°F)
Storage Temperature - 40° to + 80°C ( - 40° to + 176°F)
Humidity 0% to 95% relative humidity
Rain Resistance Meets IEC 529 - IXP1
