LiveTV Receives First Iridium OpenPort® STC for Commercial Aircraft

MELBOURNE, Fla., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- LiveTV, a wholly-owned subsidiary of JetBlue Airways, has received Supplemental Type Certification (STC) for the first commercial aircraft to install the Iridium OpenPort-Aero(SM) high-speed communications platform.  Iridium OpenPort-Aero delivers aviation's only satellite communications service with fully global coverage, providing vital high-speed data and voice connectivity to aircraft around the world.  Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM) operates the global Iridium® satellite network and partnered with LiveTV to develop the Iridium OpenPort-Aero platform, utilizing the Iridium OpenPort® broadband service. 

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Iridium OpenPort-Aero opens the door to a plethora of in-flight communications services for Airbus 320 aircraft flight crews and passengers.  Voice and data services that Iridium OpenPort-Aero supports include:  Email, text messaging, internet surfing, VPN, GSM voice and data, as well as crew voice and data, including electronic flight bags (EFB), ecommerce and real-time credit card validation.  This simple and ultra-low cost terminal operates worldwide and the form factor can be customized to accommodate installation requirements of nearly all aircraft. 

"The Iridium OpenPort-Aero platform is an ultra-low cost – but highly versatile – communications solution," said Mike Moeller, Vice President of Sales, LiveTV. "With our first STC in-hand for the terminal, this really opens the door for airlines looking for low-cost connectivity solutions to support crew and passenger connectivity, such as EFBs and wireless in-flight entertainment (IFE)." 

"Iridium is proud to deliver the only aviation broadband service that works wheels-up to wheels-down around the globe," said Gregory Ewert, Executive Vice President, Global Distribution Channels, Iridium.  "The Iridium OpenPort-Aero platform provides broadband connectivity at a fraction of the price of other aviation broadband solutions.  We are pleased to be at the forefront of aviation communications, with our innovative partner LiveTV, in changing the way passengers email, tweet, surf, work or otherwise communicate in flight."

About LiveTV

LiveTV is the world's leading provider of live in-flight entertainment and connectivity systems for commercial airlines. Founded in 1998 in Melbourne, Florida, LiveTV has installation and maintenance locations around the world to support the more than 590 aircraft equipped with its products. Current customers include JetBlue, Continental, Frontier,  Alitalia, Virgin Blue, WestJet and Azul. For a full listing of products and partners, or for more information, please visit www.livetv.net. LiveTV is a wholly-owned subsidiary of JetBlue Airways.

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ever-expanding ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. The company has a major development program underway for its next-generation network – Iridium NEXT. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium products, services and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.

Iridium®, Iridium OpenPort® and Iridium OpenPort-Aero(SM) are marks of Iridium Communications Inc.

SOURCE LiveTV