Globalstar Canada announces its new Short Message Service.
Globalstar Canada announces Direct Dial-Up Data Access and free trial of its new Short Message Service
Thursday, June 14, 2001 08:12:01 AM - CNW
MISSISSAUGA, ON, Jun 14, 2001 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- Globalstar
Canada, a leading provider of satellite-based mobile communications, today
announced an expansion of its services to include Short Messaging Service (SMS)
and Direct Dial-Up Data Access. For a limited time, all Globalstar Canada
customers can receive 19- character text messages using a GSP-1600 handset
virtually anywhere in the world free of charge. Also, as an added enhancement to
the Globalstar Data service, data customers can now connect to private networks.
"Globalstar Canada customers now have several communication options to choose
from, including voice, data, and now SMS," said Peter White, general manager of
Globalstar Canada. "Customers can now enjoy the great voice quality of
Globalstar satellite service, browse the web, access company e-mail, and engage
in quick exchanges through our SMS service."
SMS messages are sent via the Internet from the Globalstar Canada web page at
www.globalstar.ca/sms . After accessing the web page, customers will enter the
10-digit satellite phone number of the intended recipient. They then enter the
19-character message (alpha, numeric, spaces and symbols are accepted) and click
on the "Send Message" button. A message indicator will notify the customer when
a message has arrived.
Messages are immediately delivered to the handset in satellite mode. Undelivered
messages will be stored in the network and delivery attempts will be made for up
to five days if the phone is not currently in satellite mode. Messages can be
locked on the phone to retain them in memory. The GSP-1600 satellite phone has
the capacity to store up to 90 messages of 19 characters each (more than 1,700
total characters).
"We are offering our customers SMS free of charge until July 15th so they can
discover how easy it is to use the advantages of this new capability," said
White. "This cost effective service will be of great benefit to Canadian
companies with dispatches, field crews, service technicians and emergency
response teams, to name a few."
After July 15, 2001, SMS will be available to Globalstar Canada customers for
$4.95 per month. The SMS service will also be automatically included with
Globalstar Voice Mail service, which is available for $9.95 per month.
Globalstar Canada's Direct Internet Data Access enables customers to connect to
the Internet and e-mail systems. Globalstar acts as the Internet Service
Provider (ISP) allowing users to browse websites and send and receive e-mails.
Globalstar Canada's new Direct Dial-up Data Access service allows customers to
connect to private networks, which may not be accessible via the Internet, by
simply dialing the 11-digit number.
"Our new Direct Dial-up service was introduced in response to customer
requests," said White. "Although being able to access the web and e-mail via
Globalstar's data service has been well received, customers who work in remote
locations for short and extended periods of time, require access to company
information."
About Globalstar
----------------
Globalstar service is already available in more than 90 countries, and is
planning to introduce service in more than 100 countries by the end of 2001. The
Globalstar 48 low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite constellation and land-based
gateways are designed to provide service to more than 85 percent of the world's
populated areas. Currently, there are 25 gateways in operation around the globe
including the High River, Alberta gateway, which covers Western Canada and the
Northwestern United States and the Smith Falls, Ontario gateway, which covers
Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. The Globalstar satellite
system acts like a mirror to reflect a satellite call back to the nearest
gateway and route that call through Canada's public switch network and to the
call recipient, with minimal processing by the satellite. This architecture
delivers superior voice quality, minimizes the chances of dropped calls,
enhances security and makes system maintenance and upgrades easier and
economical.
Globalstar Canada is a partnership of Canadian Satellite Communications
(Cancom), Loral Space & Communications and Vodafone Plc. Globalstar Canada will
be supplying Globalstar services to Canadian and worldwide subscribers through
earth station gateways located in Smiths Falls, Ontario and High River, Alberta.
For more information, visit Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.ca or phone
1-877-SAT-PHONE (877-728-7466).
Globalstar, led by founding partner Loral Space & Communications, is a
partnership of the world's leading telecommunications service providers and
equipment manufacturers. Globalstar partners include co-founder Qualcomm,
Vodafone, and France Telecom, along with Alenia Aerospazio (a Finmeccanica
company), Elsacom, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, and Hyundai. For more information,
visit Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.com .
CONTACT: For further information: Don Blair, GCI Group, (416) 486-5910,
dblair@gcigroup.com
News release via Canada NewsWire, Toronto 416-863-9350
Copyright (C) 2001 CNW, All rights reserved |
