1996-021 October 17, 1996KDD (Japan's Global Communications) commenced today "INMARSAT Mini M Service", a portable satellite phone service that@provides voice access from anywhere in the world. KDD plans to begin the facsimile and data communication services next March. Transmission speed for both services is 2,400 bps.
The INMARSAT Mini M Service is the first portable satellite phone service and is the precursor to the "ICO service*", which is a hand-held portable satellite phone service due to begin in 1999. The INMARSAT Mini M terminal is the smallest and lightest of all the existing portable earth stations. It is smaller than a notebook PC and weighs only 2.3 kg. Compared to an INMARSAT M service terminal with the size of an attache case and the weight 13 kg, it is much easier to carry and convenient to use.
The INMARSAT Mini M Service was made possible by using the new INMARSAT satellites using a spot beam technology** with high radiation power. The INMARSAT Mini M Service will begin in areas (e.g., Asia, Europe, Middle and Near East, and Africa) covered by the Indian Ocean satellite launched this April. KDD will gradually expand the service area as additional satellites are launched to cover the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The company plans to cover the entire world by next summer.
As with the previous INMARSAT services, the Mini M Service provides direct access from the terminal to the satellite.
Therefore, mass media will find the service useful as it can access from areas that lack communication facilities such as a desert or disaster-stricken area. In addition, KDD anticipates that, when smaller terminals are developed, the service will be attractive for a wide range of applications such as international business, overseas plants, academic investigation, and travels to remote regions of the world.
For the first time in an INMARSAT service, the Mini M Service features SIM (subscriber identify module) cards. Called the INMARSAT Mini M Card, the card with a built-in IC is inserted into the terminal. By using the card, the communication charge is billed to the card number regardless of the terminal used for the communication. The card is extremely convenient when a number of people use the same terminal because it eliminates the task of allocating the charges. On an overseas business trip, a businessperson needs to carry only the business card-sized Mini M Card. They merely need to insert the card into a terminal rented abroad and enter the password and telephone number to gain access to the service.
The rates are lower than in the past. For example, a one-minute call from an overseas oil plant to Japan would cost 300 yen(30 yen per 6 seconds), which is much lower than the 520 yen charged for M service. (The rates to and from Japan are the same for anywhere in the world. See the attached information for details.)
* ICO service
The name of a next-generation hand-held satellite phone service being advanced by INMARSAT, KDD, COMSAT (U.S.), China, India, etc. Twelve satellites will be launched to put into intermediate circular orbit. Combined with an existing ground network, the service will allow anyone to communicate anywhere, at anytime using a hand-held terminal. The service is slated to begin in 1999.
** Spot beam
By narrowing the radiation range of the beam from the satellite compared to a conventional global beam, spot beam features a stronger radiation power. Consequently, it makes it possible to use a smaller antenna and in turn a more compact and lighter mobile terminal.
(Reference 1) @INMARSAT Mini M Service Rates <1> Subscription fee: 43,000 yen/terminal (one-time fee) <2> Base monthly fee: 2,000 yen/terminal <3> Annual administration fee: 22,000 yen/terminal <4> Communication rates
1. Originating from INMARSAT Mini M terminal @@ (unit: yen)
| Destination | Direct dial (every 6 seconds) |
Operator - assisted call | |||
| Station to Station call | Person to person call | ||||
| First 3 min. | Add. 1 min. | First 3 min. | Add. 1 min. | ||
| Japan | 30 | 900 | 300 | 1,200 | 300 |
| Asia, U.S., Oceania | 39 | 2,520 | 740 | 3,360 | 740 |
| Europe | 46 | 3,060 | 810 | 4,800 | 810 |
| Africa | 54 | 3,390 | 850 | 5,530 | 850 |
2. Originating from Japan to Mini M terminal
| @ | Direct dial |
Operator - assisted call | |||
| Station to Station call | Person to person call | ||||
| (every 6 seconds) | First 3 min. | Add. 1 min. | First 3 min. | Add. 1 min. | |
| From ordinary telephone | 30 | 900 | 300 | 1,200 | 300 |
| From KDD subscriber telephone (Route KDD) | 26 | 780 | 260 | 1,040 | 260 |
| From public telephone with international telephone access | 20 seconds for every 100 yen | ||||
Note
(Reference 2)
Mobile Communication Services Using INMARSAT Satellites
| Available communica- tion services | Trans- mission method | Size | Weight | Communication rates (1 minute from the terminal to a Japanese destination) | Price of terminal | |
| INMARSAT A (1982`j | Telephone FAX, data Telex | Analog | Size of a large suitcase | 30 kg | 740 yen | 3,400,000 yen |
| INMARSAT C (1992`j | data Telex | Digital | Size of an A4-sized note book PC | 5 kg | 26 yen^256bit | 1,300,000 yen |
| INMARSAT B (1993`j | Telephone FAX data | Digital | Size of a small suitcase | 18 kg | 440 yen | 4,000,000 yen |
| INMARSAT M (1993`j | Telephone FAX data | Digital | Size of an attache case | 13 kg | 520 yen | 1,600,000 yen |
| INMARSAT MINI M (1996`j | Telephone FAX data | Digital | Smaller than a notebook PC | 2.3 kg | 300 yen | Approximately 400,000 yen |
| ICO Service (1999`j | Telephone FAX data | Digital | Pocket size | Less than 300 g | Envisioned to be $1 to $2 | Unfixed |