Stratos Completes Fleetwide Deployment of FleetBroadband for Taiwan's Evergreen Marine Corp.

BETHESDA, MD, Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ - Stratos Global, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has successfully deployed the Inmarsat FleetBroadband satellite communications service on an entire fleet of 70 container vessels for its long-time customer Evergreen Marine Corp. Ltd. Based in Taiwan, Evergreen is one of the world's largest international shipping companies. Stratos currently is managing deployment of FleetBroadband on an additional 28 vessels operated by Evergreen subsidiaries.

Evergreen's selection of FleetBroadband from Stratos is an important part of its program to deploy the latest technologies to ensure optimal vessel performance and crew productivity. To attain the highest possible FleetBroadband performance, security and cost control, Evergreen fully utilizes The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services.

Evergreen successfully integrated FleetBroadband from Stratos with AmosConnect to manage all email, fax, SMS and interoffice communications. The FleetBroadband service also powers numerous other onboard applications, including remote management, which allows headquarters personnel to manage the ship's computers without visiting the vessel. It also includes database synchronization and access to the onboard voyage data recorder.

In the future, Evergreen has the option to use FleetBroadband for engine-performance analysis and emissions monitoring, to help reduce fuel costs and comply with emissions regulations. Evergreen also is testing Blue Ocean Wireless (BOW) GSM service. BOW GSM from Stratos, which can be deployed via FleetBroadband terminals, is a dedicated GSM service for crewmembers and officers of merchant ships.

"After a successful trial program last year, we discovered that FleetBroadband ensures peak performance for a wide range of business-critical applications," said Evergreen Executive Vice President Patrick Lin. "Our crewmembers also benefit from reasonably priced private email, which has helped maintain high crew spirits and productivity. The combination of service affordability and high performance convinced us to deploy FleetBroadband on our entire fleet."

Lin added, "Stratos completed installation on these 70 vessels in only three months. Efficient system deployment was made possible by Stratos' ability to provide a single source for installation, airtime and meticulous customer support - from Hong Kong in our local Mandarin language."

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "With a business relationship that dates back more than 10 years, it is especially satisfying to provide Evergreen with the latest broadband system, backed by The Stratos Advantage value-added applications and our around-the-clock customer service. We are highly confident that our integrated communications solution will provide Evergreen with a strong base on which to implement the most efficient vessel-management systems well into the future."

About FleetBroadband from Stratos

Stratos has activated more than 4,500 FleetBroadband systems across all major geographic regions and vessel types. FleetBroadband from Stratos provides cost-effective, high-speed data and voice communications - available simultaneously - at speeds up to 432kpbs. FleetBroadband from Stratos also provides on-demand guaranteed IP data rates, regardless of the vessel's location. The above-deck, stabilized, compact directional antennas are smaller than most existing Inmarsat Fleet products used today.

FleetBroadband also helps Stratos continue to provide ship managers with innovative crew-communications solutions, to support the recruitment and retention of well-trained seafarers. For example, FleetBroadband from Stratos now is available with a pre-paid web-browsing solution and other valuable services.

Communications managers have discovered that FleetBroadband from Stratos can be rapidly deployed across an entire fleet and, as a standard IP service, seamlessly integrated with head-office networks. Terminals operate globally and the user interface is standard across all products. FleetBroadband from Stratos supports any IP service, as well as traditional circuit-switched voice and ISDN data for legacy applications. Terminal costs are relatively low and the network supports all the latest security protocols.

Stratos offers a wide range of value-added services to provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. In addition to FleetBroadband, Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes Iridium OpenPort and the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek.

FleetBroadband from Stratos Features The Stratos Advantage

With the benefit of The Stratos Advantage, FleetBroadband from Stratos is elevated far above baseline FleetBroadband services. The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage, including Stratos Dashboard, provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction. Maritime customers can secure more information on FleetBroadband from Stratos by calling their Stratos account manager or by visiting www.thepowerofmobilebroadband.com.

About Evergreen Marine Corp.

Founded in 1968, Evergreen Marine Corp. Ltd. is one of the world's largest international shipping companies. With more than 240 service locations, Evergreen covers more than 80 countries with its shipping network. For more information, please visit www.evergreen-marine.com.

About Stratos

Stratos is the world's trusted leader for vital communications. Stratos offers the most powerful and extensive portfolio of remote communications solutions including mobile and fixed satellite and microwave services. More than 20,000 customers use Stratos products and industry-leading value-added services to optimize communications performance. Stratos serves U.S. and international government, military, first responder, NGO, oil and gas, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, and media users on seven continents and across the world's oceans. Stratos is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inmarsat plc. For more information, visit www.stratosglobal.com.

SOURCE Stratos Global Corporation