Features
TECHNOLOGY UPDATE
Would you like to use your GSM phone anywhere on the world´s oceans?
Since the advent of the mobile phone, every individual has his or her own unique telephone number. We all have our friends´ and business colleagues´ numbers stored on our indispensable mobile phones. The mobile phone has attained iconic status. It is now an organiser, camera, fashion statement, Dictaphone and status symbol for all ages and backgrounds.
Wouldn´t it be great if you could continue using your own mobile phone on the yacht anywhere in the world, without losing coverage whenever you move out of GSM or GPRS range?
For yacht owners, guests and crew alike this would be perfect when cruising areas with sporadic or no GSM coverage, such as the Caribbean or even the Beagle Channel!
Imagine, or would this be too outrageous, that everyone on board could use their GSM phones and have the calls charged to their own mobile phone bill, costing the yacht nothing and, even better, relieving the yacht or management company from the hassle of calculating phone usage for each charter guest.
A new company to our market has just launched a product which, when installed, makes the yacht a GSM cell. This means that everyone on board can continue using their own mobile phones irrespective of the yacht´s location.
SMS (texting) is currently available and voice, in the first quarter of 2005.
Currently owners, guests and crew can send and receive SMS messages on their own GSM phones anywhere on the world´s oceans at the standard roaming cost of 25 euro cents per text.
By the end of quarter one 2005 owners, guest and crew will be able to make voice calls anywhere on the world´s oceans. This will be just a software upgrade to the current SMS hardware.
The Altobridge unique technology, the Aeronautical & Maritime Gateway Platform, enables standard GSM coverage on yachts at sea, at clearly affordable rates. Charges for the calls appear on the user´s own GSM phone bill as standard roaming charges, just like any world GSM phone traveller.
The onboard cellular network connects back to the land based cellular network via the yacht´s existing satellite system. The Altobridge gateway supports all major satellite bearers and the architecture does not necessitate permanent (and therefore expensive) satellite connections. Satellite activity is minimised to when calls are made. An option exists where the satellite component of the call is paid back to the yacht owner from the GSM roaming charges, thus eliminating any costs to the owner of the satellite equipment.
The benefits are unique:
* This is the only remote GSM system that does not require a permanent, costly satellite connection to land. Others exist, such as Geolink, but the satellite connection is "always on".
* Owners, guests and crew can send and receive messages, and will soon be able to make voice calls, as on land.
* Communications can be sent in private instead of via a telephone in an open area.
* By using your own GSM you have access to your own mobile phone book.
* The system automatically avoids interference with any nearby land based networks.
* Optimisation techniques allow multiple simultaneous users. When using Fleet ISDN three simultaneous voice calls can be made.
* The system is compatible with all leading satellite bearers.
* When all guests and crew are using their own GSM phones on board, there will never be the need to raise bills for communication charges.
* This will provide an added attraction for charter yachts as guests can be invited to bring their own GSM mobile phones with them, which they can use to make and receive calls, wherever the yacht is.
As you can see from the above, the world of yacht communication technology is constantly evolving. Sometimes the level of improvement between the existing and the new equipment may appear minimal, but there are a few new developments around which provide a really valuable service to owners, guests and crew, allowing us all to keep in touch more easily and more cheaply, wherever and whenever we are at sea.
E3 Systems are the appointed distributors for Altobridge for the super yacht market and will be providing pre sales technical advice, sales, installation and support for this great new product. In conjunction with E3 Airtime a total turn key solution can be provided to include the satellite and GSM equipment plus tailored airtime contracts to create a very cost effective solution that will save money and could even make money for the owner.
For further information contact:
Erik Nieuwmeijer or Tony Holland at E3 Systems or E3 Airtime Tel: +34 971 404208/400738 email: erik@e3s.com or tony@e3s.com