[Satellite TODAY 01-21-10] Iridium Communications has unveiled Iridium 9602, its next-generation satellite data transceiver, the company announced Jan. 20.
    The Iridium 9602 is a full-duplex short-burst data transceiver designed for embedded applications serving remote asset tracking and monitoring solutions. The 9602 model is 69 percent smaller and 74 percent lighter than the first-generation Iridium 9601 unit.
    The product, which Iridium said spent two years in the research and development phase, has completed prototype testing and is scheduled for commercial delivery in June. “Our service partners are already testing prototypes in their Iridium 9602-based solutions for applications such as tracking soldiers and military vehicles in the field, telemetry from unattended sensors, fleet management, enterprise logistics and supply-chain visibility as well as personal two-way navigation and mapping devices,” Iridium Executive Vice President Don Thoma said in a statement.