In addition, they will investigate opportunities for future satellite network expansion and integration.
ORBCOMM and Inmarsat will work together to create a standard satellite platform and develop cost-effective hardware and flexible service pricing models for the global M2M industry. ORBCOMM is in the process of building a series of interchangeable modems powered by ORBCOMM’s OG2 VHF network and Inmarsat’s L-band network. These modems are expected to have the same footprint, connectors, power input, and programming environment.
Manufacturers and partners will be able to drop in the appropriate modem that corresponds with either the ORBCOMM or Inmarsat network based on geography, message size and delivery speed for unrivaled ease of use and flexibility. In addition, users will be able to take advantage of ORBCOMM’s relationships with Tier One cellular providers for dual-mode service, including either satellite network.
ORBCOMM also will offer its unique MAPPTM (Multi-Network Access Point Platform), which seamlessly translates and integrates the communications from its diverse network service partners into a uniform set of commands and information. This will facilitate a uniform platform for provisioning, billing and multi-mode access for M2M applications, supported by Inmarsat’s M2MAP (M2M Access Platform), enabling access to network and terminal management tools for wholesale integration with ORBCOMM.
These versatile offerings are expected to be available in ORBCOMM’s end-to-end solutions businesses in the heavy equipment, fixed asset and transportation industries, as well as through ORBCOMM’s Value-Added Reseller (VAR) and Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) channels. ORBCOMM will be leveraging off Inmarsat’s IsatData Pro (IDP), a satellite packet data service offering the highest payload and lowest latency in the market, and BGANM2M, a 3G service offering real-time IP data up to 512 kbps on a single global SIM – the only service of its kind in the satellite M2M space.
ORBCOMM and Inmarsat expect to distribute these solutions globally through their extensive commercial and government distribution networks. Given the compelling and complementary respective strengths in coverage, response time, antenna size, and message size, the quality of service and geographic footprint of the ORBCOMM and Inmarsat offering will be unmatched.
ORBCOMM and Inmarsat will also look to find potential synergies in multiple areas, which could include leveraging technologies, capital expenditures, product development, satellite operations, and ground infrastructure support for future satellite deployments. Today, ORBCOMM operates a constellation of low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, and Inmarsat operates a constellation of geostationary (GEO) satellites.
