Blue Ocean Wireless
Partners With JRC to Deliver GSM Communication to the Merchant Maritime
Sector
(21 June 2007) Blue Ocean Wireless
(BOW), an Irish company focused on delivering GSM communication capability for
the merchant maritime sector, and Japan Radio Company (JRC), one of the world's
longest established companies in the field of marine electronics, today
announced that JRC will provide BOW with its Fleet F33 terminal, the JUE-33, to
connect BOW onboard equipment to the Inmarsat satellite
system.
JRC was selected by Blue Ocean Wireless to provide Fleet
F33 terminals onboard customers' vessels given its proven track record in
wireless communication and its position as the leading supplier of Inmarsat
mobile earth stations. JRC's Fleet F33 terminal has the world's smallest
antenna, and is easily fitted to any maritime vessel. It also provides the
opportunity to be easily upgraded to the next-generation FleetBroadband
terminal which will be launched in late 2007. This will ultimately provide
greater bandwidth and add service capability to Blue Ocean Wireless' product
offering.
Blue Ocean Wireless, together with Inmarsat, Stratos, JRC and
a leading GSM network operator, provides a dedicated global GSM service for
crew members of merchant ships. Blue Ocean Wireless' service, for the first
time, enables seafarers to use their existing mobile phones on board vessels in
deep ocean water in exactly the same way that they do in port or on land. BOW
also enables ship owners, insurers and government authorities, as well as
suppliers and customers, to track and monitor individual containers on board
merchant vessels as they traverse the globe using a combination of GPRS and
RFID technology.
"This is a cutting-edge product, far superior to
anything in the market place" said Mr. Jun Nakazawa, Operations Manager of JRC.
"JRC is very excited by our partnership arrangements to co-provide seafarers
with an affordable entry to the world of GSM communications at sea.."
Mr
Robert Johnson, CEO of Blue Ocean Wireless, commented, "We are delighted to
announce this agreement with JRC, an established provider of global
communications solutions to the merchant maritime sector."
About Blue
Ocean Wireless
Blue Ocean Wireless is an Irish company focused on
expanding communication capability in the merchant maritime sector. Blue Ocean
Wireless provides, for the first time, GSM connectivity for seafarers in deep
ocean water, where no other network exists. This allows users to make and
receive voice calls, send and receive SMS text messages and, in time, browse
the internet using their existing handsets. Blue Ocean Wireless' offering is
based on Altobridge's unique 'Aeronautical & Maritime Gateway Platform'
technology. This technology can also be used, in conjunction with RFID
technology, to track and monitor shipping containers while they are in transit
at sea.
About JRC
For over 90 years, since foundation, Japan
Radio Company (JRC) continues to be one of the market leading manufacturers of
navigation and communications equipment for the merchant fleets of the world
and for small commercial and leisure craft. JRC's JUE-33 Fleet F33 has become
the standard for deep-sea ships. Having invested heavily into research and
development year-on-year, JRC's Fleet F33 reflects the demands of enhanced
connectivity, regardless of a vessel's position.
(source: Blue Ocean
Wireless, JRC)