KVH Launches Next Generation Maritime Broadband Service and New TracPhone V7
July 12 2007 - 7:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
New mini-VSAT Broadband service relies on spread spectrum
technology to deliver fast, affordable Internet and phone service
via 24" TracPhone V7 MIDDLETOWN, R.I., July 12
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Positioned to meet the exploding demand
for affordable broadband service at sea, KVH Industries, Inc.
(NASDAQ:KVHI) today introduced a new type of satellite
communications service that enables small, 24" antennas to provide
affordable, "always on" broadband data connections to vessels. The
new mini-VSAT Broadband service uses sophisticated spread spectrum
technology to provide vessels with data reception rates as fast as
2 Mbps and data transmission rates as fast as 512 Kbps via a 24"
KVH-developed marine terminal. The mini-VSAT Broadband service is
fast, "always on", and available in a variety of pricing packages
that offer significant cost savings for heavy data users when
compared with other traditional data solutions available for
commercial and leisure vessels. To support this service, KVH, under
a joint development agreement with ViaSat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT),
developed the TracPhone(R) V7 two-way broadband satellite terminal.
The system combines KVH's market leading antenna technology with
ViaSat's novel ArcLight(TM) spread spectrum mobile broadband
technology. KVH created the 24" diameter antenna, the smallest
stabilized satellite antenna available for providing broadband data
connections to vessels. A breakthrough in antenna design, the
TracPhone V7 is as much as 65% smaller and 40% lighter than
Inmarsat Fleet F77 antennas, and 85% smaller and 75% lighter than
1-meter maritime VSAT antennas. ViaSat developed a new maritime
version of its ArcLight spread spectrum modem currently used on
business jets and by the military. The two companies jointly
integrated these key technologies to enable the TracPhone V7
two-way broadband satellite terminal. "This is what broadband at
sea was meant to be," explained Martin Kits van Heyningen,
president and chief executive officer of KVH Industries. "In order
to create a 'cable modem' experience at sea, we developed a 24"
diameter, rugged antenna and integrated below-decks system that is
well-suited for maritime markets and utilizes SES AMERICOM's
satellite network. This combination allows us to provide broadband
services to commercial, government, and leisure vessels that
previously were unable to support high data rates due to their
inability to accommodate large, 1-meter antennas. The seamless
combination of TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband service
eliminates installation issues related to those larger antennas
while reducing the cost and significantly improving the
performance. Mariners will now be able to rely on a fully
integrated solution that creates reliable broadband links for
commercial quality communications that support critical needs like
ship operations, business connections, and crew morale." The
TracPhone V7 hardware and the mini-VSAT Broadband service represent
the first end-to-end package of hardware, service, and support
available for maritime communications. The smaller antenna will
save vessel owners tens of thousands of dollars in installation
costs that often must be invested to reinforce superstructures and
build custom platforms to hold the larger 250- 400 lbs antennas
currently needed to receive and transmit maritime broadband
signals. "KVH and ViaSat are demonstrating market and technical
leadership with their development of the TracPhone V7 terminal, the
critical component that underpins this high-speed service for
vessels as small as 50 feet in length. Enabled by ViaSat's ArcLight
spread spectrum satellite networking technology, the mini-VSAT
Broadband service fits into SES' strategy to identify new uses for
Ku-band fixed satellite bandwidth," added Brent Bruun, SES
AMERICOM's senior vice president of strategic initiatives. KVH will
serve as the sole point of contact for hardware and airtime sales,
activations, billing, and technical support, eliminating the issues
created when relying on multiple vendors and service providers.
Available starting in September 2007, the TracPhone V7 and
mini-VSAT Broadband service will initially offer coverage of North
and Central America along with the entire Caribbean. Later in the
fall of 2007, coverage is scheduled to expand to include the North
Atlantic shipping routes and all of Europe. Key features of the
TracPhone V7 and mini-VSAT Broadband service include: -- True
broadband connections at sea with data rates as fast as 512 Kbps
(maximum upload) and 2 Mbps (maximum download) -- Affordable,
flexible airtime subscription plans, including always-on, fixed
price monthly options and per-megabyte plans with pricing up to 90%
less per megabyte than existing maritime data services --
Commercial-grade, 24" antenna that is 85% smaller by volume and 75%
lighter than those used in existing 1-meter VSAT systems, making it
practical for use aboard smaller vessels -- Voice over IP telephone
service with multiple, simultaneous lines -- GPS-based, automatic
system configuration and antenna skew adjustment to support
seamless roaming between regions and among satellites -- Integrated
hardware, service, activation, and support for simple installation
and operation Visit http://www.minivsat.com/ for detailed
information about the TracPhone V7 and the mini-VSAT Broadband
service, coverage areas, hardware and service pricing, technology
white papers, and more. About KVH Industries, Inc. Middletown,
RI-based KVH Industries, Inc. is a leading provider of in- motion
satellite TV and communication systems, having designed,
manufactured, and sold more than 125,000 mobile satellite antennas
for applications on boats, RVs, trucks, buses, and automobiles.
Winner of the prestigious General Motors Innovative Design Award, 2
CES Innovation Awards, 22 National Marine Electronics Association
"Best Product" awards, the DAME Award in the Marine Electronics
category, and a finalist for the Automotive News PACE Award, KVH's
mission is to connect mobile customers with the same digital
television entertainment, communications, and Internet services
that they enjoy in their home and offices. This release may contain
certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include, for example, the
functionality, characteristics, quality and performance of KVH's
products and technology; anticipated innovation and product
development; and customer preferences, requirements and
expectations. The actual results could differ materially. Factors
that may cause such differences include, among others, competition
presented by alternative maritime satellite communication products
and services along with those discussed in KVH's most recent Form
10-Q filed with the SEC. KVH does not assume any obligation to
update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information or
developments. KVH and TracPhone are registered trademarks of KVH
Industries, Inc. "What broadband at sea was meant to be" and
"mini-VSAT Broadband" are service marks of KVH Industries. All
other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
DATASOURCE: KVH Industries, Inc. CONTACT: Chris Watson, KVH
Industries, +1-401-845-8138, Web site: http://www.kvh.com/
http://www.minivsat.com/
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