Hi Maurice,
I found the following article about Inmarsat in India. Very interesting to see that their phone is going to weigh 2 kg....
The cost of the phone is 2.6 lakhs or Rs. 260,000 which would be about U.S. $7,600.
===forwarded==
VSNL launches global mobile phone
Date: 13-05-1997 :: Pg: 03 :: Col: a
From Our Staff Reporter
CHENNAI, May. 12.
The Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, the country's gateway to the world today launched `Inmarsat Mini-M,' the smallest global mobile phone, in the city.
The phone from the Inmarsat consortium, weighing about 2 kg with the size of an A4 laptop computer, can be used from anywhere in the world for sending and receiving fax, voice and data.
The VSNL is the service provider in the country. Equipment are provided by global communication leaders like NERA.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. D. K. Nimal, Chief General Manager, VSNL, said the phone had global land mass coverage and supported voice at 4.8 kbps and fax and data at 2.4 kbps. The data is encrypted and hence the security of communication was ensured.
The per-minute call rate was $ 2.7 dollars with SIM card and $2.9 dollars without the card. The subscriber should get a no- objection certificate from the Department of Telecom (DoT) before seeking the Mini-M service from the VSNL.
NERA, the Norwegian telecom company and a key supplier of Inmarsat equipment brought out its Mini-M model called `WorldPhone'. The 2 Kg equipment which costs around Rs. 2.6 lakhs has a detachable antenna. The
Nickel metal hydride battery had 3 hours talk time and 50 hours standby.
Mr. Bashir Patel, Regional Director, Central and West Asia, Inmarsat, said among various sectors needing mobile communication, the rural and remote areas in the country would benefit from the Mini-M enormously.
The time taken by the signals to reach the satellite was only 100 milliseconds.
Mr. Peter Goldsmith from Inmarsat highlighted the maritime applications and services of the products of the consortium.
Mr. N. Parameswaran, Senior General Manager, VSNL, Chennai and other senior officials were present on the occaion.
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-Raj |
