Iridium 9602 Transceiver is Ready for Market One Month Early
10 May 2010

Smaller, Lighter, Lower Cost Transceiver to Revolutionize Two-Way Satellite Data Communications Market

Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) announces that its revolutionary new satellite data transceiver is ready for market one month ahead of schedule and the company is accepting orders. The Iridium 9602 short burst data (SBD) transceiver is lower cost, smaller and lighter than the company's previous model, the Iridium 9601 transceiver. Its new form factor is driving the design of many new global Machine-to-Machine (M2M) data communications solutions by a wider range of Iridium development partners serving broader markets.

The culmination of a two year R&D collaboration among Iridium and its technical partners, the Iridium 9602 two-way device is designed to be embedded into partner-developed products and systems that enable remote M2M asset tracking and monitoring. It offers the same reliable, real-time critical communications service that Iridium has delivered since the inception of its SBD service and that the company plans to deliver through its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT.

"The Iridium 9602 meets a communications need that only Iridium can deliver - truly global coverage - and is changing the game in terms of size, price and two-way data capability," said Joel Thompson, vice president of product management at Iridium. "The Iridium 9602 also provides our partners flexibility to serve new markets that require a smaller, lighter transceiver that is more easily integrated into their technology and is more affordable to their end-user customers."

"The number of low data rate mobile satellite services (MSS) devices is projected to double between now and the end of 2013. With this growth, and with Iridium's product innovation, the M2M market represents a significant opportunity for Iridium," said Tim Farrar, president, TMF Associates.

More than 90 Iridium partners have tested the Iridium 9602 for integration into new products. Planned Iridium 9602-based applications include telemetry from unattended sensors, fleet management, enterprise logistics and supply-chain visibility, tracking soldiers and military vehicles, and personal two-way navigation and mapping.

For more information on Iridium products and solutions, visit www.iridium.com.