[Satellite Today 04-13-09] KVH expects to report revenue of approximately $18 million for the first quarter of 2009, a 22 percent drop from the $23.1 million it posted in the same period in 2008, the company announced April 8.
    The company said the drop is due to revenue shortfall, driven by lower sales of its mobile satellite television and communications products for new leisure vessels and the recreational vehicle market, with preliminary estimates showing KVH will report a loss of roughly 18 cents per share for the first quarter, compared with the 2008 first quarter’s gain of 11 cents per diluted share.
    Despite the warnings, KVH also noted its accomplishments, including the expansion of its mini-VSAT broadband satellite communications service to the Pacific Ocean region and Persian Gulf. The company also saw the signing of a distribution agreement for its TracPhone V7 antenna and mini-VSAT broadband service with Thrane amd Thrane.
    Separately, KVH announced $1.3 million in new orders for its tactical navigation systems (TacNav) from three international prime contractors. The TacNav shipments are slated to begin in the second quarter and continue through 2010, KVH said.
    “Taking these orders into account, along with the company’s prior backlog, the company expects that its second quarter results will be sequentially better than those for the first quarter of 2009. Nevertheless, economic conditions continue to be a significant challenge,” said Dan Conway, vice president of KVH business development, in a statement.