Push to Talk on Iridium system, new and intresting

Icom (a ham radio company, amoug other things) and the folks over at Iridium have gotten together.

News Release - Icom America

The Satellite PTT radio is a professional radio communications system using the Iridium satellite communication network. This system enables real-time, one-to-many communication throughout the world with only a push of a PTT (transmit) button. In addition, Iridium's unique interconnected satellite architecture ensures stable and reliable communication even if large-scale disasters occur on earth and terrestrial networks are compromised. Icom President Masataka Harima says, "Icom has been developing various wireless communications equipment for land use, marine use, and air band use. This Satellite PTT project will be a tough challenge, but the project will fill an important piece of our product lineups that cover all areas from the surface of the earth and even in to space. We continue to challenge ourselves."

 

Not much to go on yet... :
US Market: This device has not been approved by the Federal Communications Commission. This device may not be sold or leased, or be offered for sale or lease, until approval of the FCC has been obtained.

 

Sounds like the old Nextel system with the PTT . I heard that they quit using that system because the military was going to aquire that system . If it's the same system .

 

I know I could talk from Hawaii to USA with PTT without issue and talk with my bud overseas with whatsapp all the time

 

In testing now.