Now Shipping: The Iridium 9602 Data Transceiver
The availability of the Iridium 9602 Data Transceiver has been much-anticipated from Iridium partners looking to expand their product lines and develop new applications. Sixty-nine percent smaller, 74 percent lighter and at a lower cost than the first-generation Iridium 9601 SBD transceiver, it is no wonder that the Iridium 9602 has already garnered quite a bit of attention.
The Iridium 9602 is a full-duplex short-burst data (SBD) transceiver designed for embedded applications in the rapidly growing market for machine-to-machine (M2M) remote asset tracking and monitoring solutions. The product, which is the culmination of a two-year R&D program, has completed prototype testing, and has already started making commercial deliveries.
The Iridium 9602 provides global two-way data links for remote tracking, monitoring and messaging applications. The Iridium 9602 replaces the Iridium 9601 transceiver, and incorporates the same performance and access to Iridium’s global SBD communications services. However, the very small form factor and low power consumption offers greater flexibility to value-added manufacturers (VAMs) and resellers (VARs) looking to easily design the Iridium 9602 into new or existing products.
In addition, a new and unique feature of the Iridium 9602 is its built-in GPS input/output ports which permit system integrators to interface with an external GPS receiver, using a single dual-mode L-Band antenna for GPS and Iridium SBD, saving the cost of an antenna in their applications.
“The Iridium 9602 was engineered to serve as the data communication engine for a wide range of portable tracking, monitoring and messaging solutions, leveraging Iridium's global coverage and low-latency, two-way data links," said Don Thoma, executive vice president for marketing at Iridium.
"The matchbook-sized form factor and lower price alone are attractive attributes of the Iridium 9602. I imagine we will see a number of new partner solutions integrating the Iridium 9602. The possibilities are endless,” said Thoma. “What’s more is that the Iridium 9602 is uniquely positioned against the competition. The 9602 comes out on top not just in hardware size, weight and cost, but in performance -- combine those features with the global two-way communications capability of Iridium’s communications network and the Iridium 9602 is the best solution in the global market.”
Today, there are more than 90 companies working on plans to embed the Iridium 9602 into their customer solutions. These next-generation applications will include personal two-way navigation and mapping devices, enterprise logistics and supply-chain visibility solutions, telemetry from unattended sensors, fleet management, and applications for tracking soldiers and military vehicles in the field.
Iridium shared with partners a detailed transition program for the Iridium 9601, which the Iridium 9602 is replacing, in early April. The program allows ample overlap to allow partners time to factor the product switchover into their planning.
Partners will have more than 18 months to transition from the Iridium 9601 to the Iridium 9602, as Iridium will accept orders for the Iridium 9601 until close of business on December 31, 2010. Iridium will provide delivery of the ordered 9601 units through December 20, 2011. The Iridium 9602 is currently available for order and partners should consult with their respective account manager or visit www.Iridium.com for additional details.
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