Technology

XM Unveils New Portable Radios

XM Satellite Radio unveiled four new portable radios, including a pair of units that can receive live XM signals as well as play stored digital music files.

The Samsung Helix XM2go can receive live XM signals and record up to 50 hours of XM programming or digital files. The unit, priced at $399.99, weighs about 4.5 ounces and measures about 3.7 inches high, 2.2 inches wide, and 0.6 inch deep.

Samsung also unveiled two portable units that can record XM signals when connected to a docking station and also play digital files. The Samsung Nexus 25 player, priced at $199.99 can up to 25 hours of programming, and the Nexus 50, priced at $249.99, stores 50 hours of content. All three units will be available before the end of the first quarter.

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.’s next-generation XM2go radio, dubbed the Inno, also has the capability to receive live XM signals and play digital files. The Inno, weighing 4.5 ounces, carries flash memory that can store up to 50 hours of programming. The unit, with all accessories for portable and home use, is priced at $399.99. (XM Satellite Radio; 1500 Eckington Place, NE, Washington, DC 20002; Tel: 202-380-4000; Fax: 202-380-4500; Web: http://www.xmradio.com)

16ndriving.com Introduces GPS Tracking System For Parents Of Young Drivers

16ndriving.com Inc. unveiled a specialized GPS tracking system that will be marketed to parents of teenage drivers, Littlebrother is a small GPS satellite tracking device that can be covertly installed under the dash of any vehicle. The unit provides tracking coverage in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as Puerto Rico. (16ndriving.com Inc.; Web: http://www.16ndriving.com)

Garmin Unveils GPS Product Support for Mac OS X

Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. began to make its line of GPS and mobile electronics devices compatible with Mac OS X version 10.4 Tiger. This makes Garmin the first major GPS designer and manufacturer to announce direct support for Mac OS X. (Garmin International Inc., 1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, KS 66062-3426; Tel: 913\ 397-8200; Fax: 913\397-8282; Web: http://www.garmin.com)

Services

BSkyB Doubles Sky+ Households

U.K. satellite pay-TV operator, BSkyB ended 2005 with slightly less than 8.1 million subscribers, with net subscriber growth of 215,000 in the fourth quarter, BSkyB has also seen strong growth for its personal video recorder offering Sky+. At the end of December, the operator had close to 1.3 million households taking its Sky+ service.

Dish Expands HD Package

Echostar Communications Corp. and its Dish Network direct-to-home satellite service unveiled a new high-definition television package, DishHD.

The package includes five new Voom channels, bringing the total to 15, as well as networks such as ESPN2 HD and Universal HD. Dish also plans to launch HD local channels in up to 50 markets in 2006, beginning with Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York in February. The HD package begins at $54.99 per month.

Gilat To Provide VSAT Network In Brazil

Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd., in conjunction with Embratel and subsidiary StarOne, will deploy a 2,400-site VSAT network for Brazil’s largest cosmetics chain, O Boticario Comercial Farmaceutica Ltda., Gilat announced.

The VSATs will be used to provide applications such as credit card authorization, Internet access, voice over Internet protocol, distance learning, music clip distribution and product launch initiatives and advertisements.

iDirect Technologies Deploy VSAT Hub

iDirect Technologies, a division of Vision Technologies Systems Inc., and Globecomm Systems Inc. deployed their first hub intended specifically to support GSM networks over satellite. The VSAT hub will support multiple shared networks delivering GSM service throughout the EMEA region.

By utilizing broadband IP satellite access with the Globecomm/iDirect solution, cellular network operators can backhaul GSM Abis traffic economically from any location, the companies said.

Tata Sky Plans To Launch Service By June

The Tata Group plans to launch its direct-to-home satellite TV service, Tata Sky, by June. The service will be available in Mumbai, India initially before moving to other cities.

In November, Tata signed a lease agreement with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) for 12 Ku-band transponders aboard the Insat-4A satellite, which the company plans to use to broadcast 150 digital channels across India.

Wildblue To Enter Enterprise VSAT Market

Wildblue Communications announced its intentions to enter the enterprise VSAT market with its high-speed Internet access via satellite.

Wildblue will offer enterprise-class high speed, two-way products and services to small and medium enterprises, telecommuters and specialized industries.

Contracts

Collecte Localisation Satellites Signs Contract For Radarsat-2 Imagery

MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. announced that Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) of Toulouse, France, signed a contract for imagery provided by the Radarsat-2 satellite, to detect illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing ships in areas in the South Indian Ocean around Kerguelen Island, a French territory.

Radarsat-2 is scheduled to be launched in December. CLS currently uses imagery provided by Radarsat-1.

Comtech Receives military Contract

Comtech Telecommunications Corp. announced that its Maryland-based subsidiary, Comtech Mobile Datacom Corp., received a preliminary contract valued at up to $22.6 million to provide satellite communications and network management services to the U.S. Army.

Initial funding was set at $16.9 million, with the contract expected to be finalized and funded to its full value within the next few months.

EADS To Build Nimiq 4

Telesat Canada awarded a contract to EADS Astrium to build the Nimiq 4 direct broadcast satellite.

The spacecraft, based on the E3000 platform, will carry 32 Ku-band and eight Ka-band transponders to provide TV coverage from an orbital location of 82� West. This is the third Telesat contract won by EADS Astrium in three years. Anik F1R entered service in October, while Anik F3 is scheduled for launch aboard a Russian Proton rocket. International Launch Services will launch Nimiq 4 satellite on a Proton Breeze M vehicle in 2008.

ESA Sign Contract For Four Satellites

The European Space Agency (ESA) signed a 950 million euro ($1.2 billion) contract with Galileo Industries GmbH. The contract calls for the development and in-orbit validation of the Galileo satellite navigation constellation’s first four satellites.

The Galileo In Orbit Validation Elements-A (GIOVE-A) test satellite, launched last December, began transmitting signals.

The second demonstration satellite, GIOVE-B, is scheduled to be launched in April aboard a Soyuz rocket.

Globecomm Systems Awarded Multiple Contracts

Globecomm Systems Inc. announced that it has been awarded multiple contracts valued at about $3.1 million from an unnamed existing customer.

Globecomm received an $8.3 million contract from the customer, a global multilateral organization, in July 2003 to provide fixed and transportable earth station terminals. The contract included $26.7 million in follow-on options, and the customer has now exercised $22.1 million in options.

Norsat Delivers Globetrekket With Arrowhead

Arrowhead Global Solutions and Norsat International Inc. will jointly deliver Norsat’s portable broadband satellite system to U.S. military forces in the field. Under the agreement, Arrowhead will market the Globetrekker system and provide the first line of customer support.

Globetrekker is a portable satellite system that enables users to establish broadband connections on short notice anywhere in the world. Globetrekker supports data transmission rates up to 4 megabits per second and comes with a 1-meter carbon fiber antenna, RF electronics and motorized azimuth/elevation superstructure.

Spot Image Awarded USGS Contract

Spot Image Corp., the U.S. marketing arm of France’s Spot Image, won a contract by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for the purchase of satellite imagery products and services. Spot operates a constellation of satellites that provide imagery with resolutions ranging from 2.5 meters to 20 meters.

Xicom To Supply Amplifiers For Military Satellite Program

Radyne Corp. subsidiary Xicom Technology received an order valued at more than $1 million for tri-band satellite amplifiers from an unnamed U.S. company. The amplifiers will be used in an existing mobile satellite program for the U.S. military. The order is expected to ship before summer.

Executive Moves

Allied Defense Group Names New President

The Allied Defense Group Inc. announced that David Collins has been named president of subsidiary Seaspace Corp., manufacturer of hardware and software products that provide satellite-derived weather and environmental information.

Collins most recently served as director of administration for Tie Tek LLC and has more than 20 years experience in management, operations and marketing and sales.

Mobile Satellite Ventures Appoints Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) appointed Scott Macleod, a 20-year telecom and strategic finance veteran, to the position CFO, the company announced. Macleod will be responsible for finance and strategic business planning for MSV’s nationwide integrated satellite and terrestrial network.

Macleod most recently served as managing director of Rothschild Inc. Prior to that, he was chief corporate development officer of XO Communications and previously had been managing director and a founding member of Merrill Lynch’s Global Communications Group.

Radyne Appoints COO

Radyne Corp. named Carl Myron Wagner president and COO. Wagner also is a candidate for CEO, Radyne said.

Brian Duggan, who has served as Radyne’s president and COO, will become president and general manager of the company’s Tiernan high-definition TV business.

Wagner most recently was at General Dynamics, where he served as vice president and director of engineering for the Space and National Systems Division since 2004. Prior to that, Wagner served as vice president and general manager of Motorola’s Instant Communications strategic business unit.

Spot Image Corp. Names President

Antoine de Chassy has been named the new president of Spot Image Corp., the U.S. marketing arm of France’s imagery satellite operator, the company announced.

De Chassy served the last three years as vice president for strategy and COO of Spot Image SA in Toulouse, France. Prior to joining Spot, he served as president of Fleximage SA, a value-added imagery firm serving the defense and intelligence markets. De Chassy replaces Neal Carney.

Telenor Appoints New CEO

The board of Telenor Satellite Services AS appointed Morten Tengs as the company’s CEO. Tengs replaces Tore Hilde who left the company at the end of January due to stated differences of opinion about Telenor’s operations.

Tengs joined Telenor Global Services AS in 1995 and has served as the company’s CEO since 1999.