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To: djane who wrote (5352)	6/24/1999 12:33:00 PM
From: djane	Respond to of 29987

PRESS RELEASE. Iridium sharpens value for customers (Sydney, Australia, June 22, 1999) Iridium has announced a range of major initiatives to further boost the value it offers customers following a comprehensive review and refocus of its worldwide marketing program. Customers will benefit from a vastly simplified international satellite call charging structure, value oriented satellite call charges and the introduction of bundled subscriber equipment packages which reflect market demand for value-added offerings. In a further boon for customers, Iridium will adjust its satellite call charging increments to ten seconds, ensuring billing more accurately reflects actual customer usage. "Iridium is the first network to offer a personal satellite and multi-mode cellular service that covers the entire Earth1. Since the launch of services in November we have learned from our customers, and we have moved decisively to sharpen the value we offer," said Mr. Carlton Jennings, Chief Executive Officer, Iridium South Pacific. The simplified call charging structure, effective 1 July 1999, will see Iridium drop its original multiple pricing zones in favour of one flat rate for all international satellite calls. International satellite calls from anywhere in the world1 to an international fixed-line or mobile phone anywhere in the world1 will cost only A$2.22 per 30 seconds for Iridium South Pacific customers, which translates to call cost savings of up to 65 per cent. From July 1 there will also be a decrease in the price of domestic satellite calls made from an Iridium satellite phone to fixed-line or mobile phones within Australia, costing just A$1.30 for 30 seconds. As part of the competitive new charging structure, all satellite calls made by Iridium South Pacific customers to another Iridium phone anywhere in the world1 via the Iridium network will now be priced at a single global rate of A$1.07 per 30 seconds. "Unlike hypothetical pricing that may be proposed by other satellite services that may eventually come to the market, Iridium satellite call pricing is all-inclusive, ensuring Iridium South Pacific customers know exactly what they will pay to use the Iridium network," Mr. Jennings said. The refocus of Iridium customer value extends to Iridium equipment providers Motorola and Kyocera. Motorola will offer new value added packages that address subscribers' specific communication needs and pass on to the customer the cost benefits that bundling provides. For example, industrial users can now purchase a bundled package, which contains a satellite Iridium handset plus an antenna adapter, a portable auxiliary antenna and a high capacity battery. Distribution channels for all Iridium products and services have also been expanded through the Motorola Global Satellite Sales Group. This expansion will see the distribution and customer-focussed service might of Motorola added to Iridium's already extensive network of specialist communications dealers in Australia. "The beauty of the Iridium network is that it works with all existing land-based cellular networks by extending cellular roaming to cover the world through our satellite network in space. Our multi-mode phones allow Iridium customers to make calls on the cellular networks of our roaming partners including Optus and Telstra in Australia. Where no cellular service is available they can make calls via the Iridium satellite network," Mr. Jennings said. "And now our roaming partner customers can roam on the Iridium network when outside of local coverage." "Through local cellular roaming and the global reach of our satellite network, Iridium is the only company here today with a fully tested and operational network that covers 100 per cent of the Australian continent, the oceans and the surrounding airspace," he said. Mr. Jennings announced that the introduction of these latest initiatives would coincide with a ten per cent airtime rebate on Iridium satellite call billings for current customers from initial activation on the service, to the end of June 1999. Iridium South Pacific will also waive the monthly access fee for these loyal customers, providing savings of up to A$80 per month for customers who are billed directly by Iridium. Iridium's target markets in Australia are industrial (e.g. mining, construction, forestry, commercial fishing) and local, state and federal government users, and any customer operating in remote areas where there is no land-based communications coverage. This also includes business professionals travelling between incompatible cellular networks worldwide. Iridium, a monumental technological achievement, became the world's first global satellite communication network on November 1, 1998. The network of 66 low-earth orbiting satellites, combined with land-based cellular systems, enables customers to communicate virtually anywhere in the world using one phone, one phone number, and receiving one monthly bill. Customers access participating local cellular networks when available, and the Iridium satellite network when outside land-based cellular coverage. Service activation is available through Iridium or through Iridium's comprehensive dealer network and roaming partners Telstra and Optus. 1Pending national government approvals For more information, contact Rachel Bell, Burson-Marsteller on (03) 9685 8500 Simon Pangrazio, Burson-Marsteller on (03) 9685 8562 or 0417 387 774 © 1999 Iridium LLC

To: djane who wrote (5352)	6/24/1999 12:36:00 PM
From: djane	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 29987

Iridium North America Announces New Pricing Structure Business Editors TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 24, 1999--Iridium North America (INA) today announced a simplified call rate structure and an equipment price reduction to further boost the value it offers U. S. Service providers and their subscribers. To demonstrate INA's commitment to the repositioning of the Iridium program, the simplified call rate structure, which becomes effective July 1, 1999, will see Iridium reduce its original 15 international pricing zone rates to as few as 4 pricing scenarios for voice services. Those pricing scenarios are (1) Iridium satellite telephone calls from an Iridium handset to an Iridium handset; (2) Iridium satellite telephone calls originated and terminated in North America (domestic calls); (3) Iridium satellite telephone calls made from one international location to another international location (international calls); (4) and, Iridium World Roaming Service where calls are made across the terrestrial networks. The pricing scenarios for Iridium homed satellite calls have suggested retail prices ranging from as low as $1.59 per minute using the Iridium network exclusively to as low as $2.99 per minute for all other international satellite calls. It should be noted that the satellite price is a total cost, including both long distance and toll charges, unlike emerging competitors. INA is working with its service providers to develop new usage based service packages and pricing that are better aligned with their customer's needs. Packages will vary from low monthly access fees with higher usage rates for subscribers with contingency usage needs to higher monthly access and low usage rates for those subscribers who use the Iridium solution consistently. "Iridium North America's new pricing reflects the diversity of the markets we serve and gives our service providers the latitude to create market-specific access plans," said Jim Walz, president of Iridium North America. "In addition to the simplified pricing structure, we will continue to fully support our service providers by supplying them with the front and back office tools they need to be successful." Also, based on the feedback from the existing subscriber base, the equipment package for Iridium handsets will now include a high capacity battery, an auxiliary portable antenna and an antenna adapter, which has previously been priced separately. The price of the handset equipment package for use on the Iridium system in the U.S. has now been reduced to a suggested retail rate of $1,495.00 for the Motorola Satellite Series 9500 Portable Telephone and the Motorola Satellite Series 9501 Pager at a suggested retail rate of $395.00. The suggested retail price for service and equipment is exclusive of any programs, promotions or other incentives offered to new subscribers by our Service Providers. "Iridium offers a comprehensive communication solution for those businesses and industries that can't afford to be out of reach," said Walz. "These organizations understand the value that cost-effective communication can contribute to their bottom lines." Iridium North America's target industries include commercial and leisure marine, entertainment, oil and gas, mining, construction, aviation, humanitarian, agriculture, and government (military, emergency services, disaster relief). These industries often operate in remote areas where there is no land-based coverage and a communications solution is vital to their success. INA's target market also includes the Global Citizens who travel internationally and are heavy cellular users. These Global citizens need a communications solution that will provide continuity of communications across incompatible cellular standards as well as for those areas without any land-based communications. Iridium North America is the sole owner and operator for Iridium services in North America. Iridium North America is actively selling services through integrated wireless service providers and distribution partners providing customers the ability for unique service that permits any type of telephone transmission - voice, paging, data and fax - to reach its destination virtually anywhere on Earth, at any time. Iridium North America is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona and serves the United States, Bermuda, Guam and Puerto Rico. Iridium North America is backed by telecommunications leaders Motorola, Inc., Sprint Corporation and Iridium Canada, Inc. For additional information regarding the Iridium system, please visit the web site at www.iridium.com or call 1-888-IRIDIUM. --30--rg/ny* CONTACT: Iridium North America Karla Williams 480/752-1102