Iridium Announces 'Test Your Satellite Phone' Week

MCLEAN, Va., May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), the world's only provider of truly global mobile satellite communications, announces the launch of its fourth annual "Test Your Satellite Phone" (TYSP) Week initiative, reminding users to make sure their satellite phones are ready to deploy at a moment's notice when natural or manmade disasters strike.

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"First responders, emergency relief and recovery workers, and organizations with international operations depend on Iridium satellite phones for vital communications in the aftermath of disasters because we offer reliable, global service in an easy-to-use and extremely mobile handset," said Don Thoma, executive vice president, marketing, for Iridium. "That's why we take this opportunity each year to encourage our customers to check out their satellite phones, to ensure batteries are fully charged and phones are working properly, and to review operating procedures for making and receiving satellite calls."

"If you've been deployed to respond to a disaster and you discover your battery is depleted or you can't remember dialing procedures, your mission can be seriously hampered," added Thoma.  "It sounds straightforward, but we hear from users all the time that, in the heat of the moment, they simply forgot to test their phone, which is why we launched Test Your Satellite Phone Week four years ago," added Thoma.  

Iridium subscribers can call a toll-free number (00-1-480-752-5105) on any satellite phone to verify proper operation.  Callers will hear a recorded voice message confirming they completed the call successfully and offering refresher tips for using the phones.  

"International enterprises, such as hotel chains, air carriers, shipping companies, hospitals and financial institutions, as well as non-governmental organizations, are increasingly aware of the importance of mobile satellite phones in business continuity and recovery plans," said Ted Brown, President and CEO, KETCHConsulting, a business continuity expert. "Regular tests of mission-critical communications equipment, such as satellite phones, are an important part of every organization's emergency preparedness planning."

"We applaud Iridium's public service effort to ensure that first responders and relief workers are fully prepared to roll into action when called into action," said APCO International President Richard Mirgon. "Experience has shown that phone lines, Internet connections and wireless cellular networks are often destroyed or damaged, or just cannot handle the enormous surge in traffic following a natural or manmade disaster, and satellite phones become the only lifeline to the outside world."

For more information on Iridium's TYSP initiative, visit www.testyoursatellitephone.com.  Media are welcome to download and publish a Test Your Satellite Phone Week public service announcement (PSA) from this site.  In addition, tips and techniques available for satellite phone use and testing are included, such as:

• Test your phone monthly.
• Keep the battery charged. For optimal performance, completely discharge before fully charging.
• Ensure SIM card is locked in place. Remove the battery to check if the tray is securely positioned and locked.
• Protect the phone's antenna. Stow the antenna in the "down position" when not in use.
• Call outside with a clear view. Avoid obstructions to the sky and the horizon such as buildings and trees.

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium Communications Inc. (www.iridium.com) is the only mobile satellite service (MSS) company offering coverage over the entire globe. The Iridium constellation of low-earth orbiting (LEO) cross-linked satellites provides critical voice and data services for areas not served by terrestrial communication networks. Iridium serves commercial markets through a worldwide network of distributors, and provides services to the U.S. Department of Defense and other U.S. and international government agencies. The company's customers represent a broad spectrum of industry, including maritime, aeronautical, government/defense, public safety, utilities, oil/gas, mining, forestry, heavy equipment and transportation. Iridium has launched a major development program for its next-generation satellite constellation, Iridium NEXT. The company is headquartered in McLean, Va., USA and trades on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbols IRDM (common stock), IRDMW ($7.00 warrants), IRDMZ ($11.50 warrants) and IRDMU (units).

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Iridium NEXT. Other forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "anticipates," "may," "can," "believes," "expects," "projects," "intends," "likely," "will," "to be" and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding the development and availability of financing for Iridium NEXT and other risks that affect our ability to generate cash internally, as well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2010. There is no assurance that Iridium's expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Iridium Communications Inc.