Globalstar awards world's first LEO satellite payphone contract to Schlumberger
Presswire - February 24, 1999 14:41
M2 PRESSWIRE-24 February 1999-GLOBALSTAR: Globalstar
awards world's first LEO satellite payphone contract to Schlumberger
(C)1994-99 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
CANNES, France -- Globalstar, L.P. (NASDAQ:GSTRF) announced
today the award of the world's first low- earth-orbit (LEO) satellite
payphone contract to Schlumberger, the world's foremost supplier of
smart- card-based payphones and services. This contract enables
Schlumberger to provide a turnkey satellite payphone solution for
Globalstar service providers.
"We are very pleased to be aligned with Schlumberger," said Gerry
Canavan, senior vice president of marketing at Globalstar. "This
relationship will allow both Schlumberger and Globalstar to access new
payphone services markets around the globe."
"Schlumberger will offer a turnkey solution for Globalstar and its service
providers, supplying all indoor and outdoor satellite payphones and
providing all services for their installation and their support," said Paul
Lenfant, Globalstar project manager for Schlumberger. "The innovative
smart-card- based payphones will be especially beneficial in the remote
areas of the world which have not yet been reached by phone lines, or
where they may be uneconomical to install."
Located in villages as small as a few hundred people, the Globalstar
payphones will be available either in outdoor phone booths or as
counter-top units that can be installed at a local store. The Globalstar
fixed-site payphones include a roof-mounted radio antenna unit to be
installed outdoors with a clear view of the sky, an outdoor junction box,
and a payphone like that used in traditional smart card-based wireline
service. They are equipped with a special security device against line
tapping. The payphones may be powered through a combination of
power sources, including standard connections, battery and solar power.
Globalstar is the next generation provider of mobile satellite personal
communications services. The Globalstar system, comprising 48 LEO
satellites and a global network of ground stations, will provide people
around the world with fixed-phone and hand-held mobile satellite phone
services, as well as data transmission (at up to 9.6 kilobits per second),
messaging, facsimile and position location services.
Globalstar is designed to provide cost-effective, high-quality mobile
satellite services to customers around the world. Its use of advanced
CDMA technology ensures superior voice quality, and its system routes
calls through multiple satellites simultaneously, minimizing dropped calls
and maximizing completed calls. Globalstar has been conducting handset
tests since April 1998 via the satellites it currently has in orbit, and expects
to begin the progressive rollout of commercial services in the third quarter
of 1999.
Globalstar now has service provider agreements in more than 100
countries, covering 90 percent of Globalstar's business plan. Six
Globalstar gateways are being used to control and test the satellite system,
and site work and construction is under way at 20 more gateway sites
around the world.
Schlumberger Smart Cards & Terminals is the leading provider of smart
card-based solutions worldwide, shaping the new world of smart solutions
by providing leading-edge technology to enable innovative smart card and
terminal applications that enhance the security and convenience of
businesses and communities of all kinds. Schlumberger smart card
solutions encompass a wide range of cards, terminals, development tools
and support in open configurations for operators, developers, integrators
and distributors worldwide. The Smart Cards & Terminals group
operates 45 facilities in 34 countries across the globe. Additional
information is available on the World Wide Web at
www.slb.com/smartcards.
Schlumberger Test & Transactions comprises Schlumberger Smart Cards
& Terminals and Schlumberger Automated Test Equipment, leveraging
the combined strengths of these two business units to provide
leading-edge, cost-effective solutions to customers. Schlumberger Test &
Transactions is a business unit of Schlumberger Limited, a $11.8 billion
global technology service company providing oilfield services, natural
resources management, transactions-based technology and associated
systems, and semiconductor test equipment.
Globalstar, led by founding partner Loral Space & Communications, is a
partnership of the world's leading telecommunications service providers
and equipment manufacturers, and includes Qualcomm Incorporated,
AirTouch Communications, Alcatel, Alenia, China Telecom (HK),
DACOM, Daimler-Benz Aerospace, Elsacom (a Finmeccanica/Elsag
Bailey Company), TE.SA.M. (A company of France Telecom Group
[51% and Alcatel (49%]), Hyundai, Space Systems/Loral and Vodafone.
For more information, visit Globalstar's web site at www.globalstar.com.
CONTACT: John Cunningham, Globalstar, L.P. Tel: +1 408 933 4434
Dirk Hinze, Schlumberger Tel: +33 1 47 46 79 50 |
