MCLEAN, Va., June 29, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) today announced the initial service providers for the Iridium Push-to-Talk (PTT) solution. Iridium PTT is the world's first global, satellite-based push-to-talk service, enabling instant communication between participants located anywhere on earth. Iridium PTT provides a fast, simple, and global service making the Iridium network available to tens, or tens of thousands of devices with the push of a single button. The service providers include:

• The AST Group of companies (AST), a leading global provider of satellite and radio communications, including custom satellite solutions, Push-to-Talk and remote asset management and tracking.
• Beam Communications, a leader in the design and manufacture of satellite devices, docking stations and accessories for the global satellite market.
• Gardline Comms, Inc. (G COMM), provides mission critical mobile and fixed satellite communications to industry and governments around the world which, as part of a group, also supports the navigation and communication needs of the offshore oil and gas industry in the North Sea.
• Gilat Satcom, which provides enterprises as well as army, public security and government entities with efficient and reliable satellite-based connectivity solutions.
• Network Innovations, a satellite communications integrator specializing in the development and delivery of turn-key and customer design communications solutions for the media, energy, maritime, enterprise and government sectors.
• Roadpost, provider of satellite voice and data to support critical communications for thousands of customers in government, natural resources and other sectors.
• Spacenet Communication Services de Mexico, a Mexican company offering MSS and FSS in Latin America. 

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=34104

Iridium PTT is comprised of three components that work seamlessly to provide a ubiquitous solution globally: the Iridium PTT service delivered through the Iridium Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation; the Iridium Command Center, the cloud-based management system where all radios and talkgroups are managed; and the Iridium PTT radios, including both the Iridium Extreme® PTT as well as other satellite or hybrid PTT devices powered by the Iridium PTT 9523 Core transceiver, which allows Value Added Manufacturers (VAMs) the capability to further expand enterprise applications for Iridium PTT.

The Iridium PTT Command Center is the first ever cloud-based customer management system for satellite-based push-to-talk solutions. The Command Center gives organizations the ability to easily manage and define the geographic coverage for each needed talkgroup. The coverage areas are created using a graphical map interface fueled by Google Maps. Through the Command Center, administrators can quickly and easily define which devices/users are members of specific talkgroups and how many talkgroups are needed. As situations evolve, managers are able to make changes to groups dynamically, and these are carried out over-the-air to Iridium PTT devices within seconds.

"Iridium PTT products are currently shipping, and the demand and excitement we are seeing for the Iridium PTT solution is fantastic; it underscores the need for a truly global, secure, reliable communication solution for workgroups," said Joel Thompson, vice president and general manager, terrestrial business unit, Iridium. "This is a stellar group of service providers that represent some of the very best across the industry; we're pleased to be partnering with them to bring this solution to new customers globally."

Iridium PTT, like most commercial and private trunked radio services solutions, uses half-duplex communication, like a walkie-talkie, where one party talks to other participants in a group who serve as listeners. The coverage provided by the Iridium satellite network, as well as advanced security and features, elevates this service far above and beyond what is currently offered today.

"Iridium PTT allows users to quickly initiate talkgroup sessions, making it ideal for remote and fast-paced industries and deployments," said Dan Tillet, director, product management, Iridium. "To provide one use case scenario, during summer months forest fires are prevalent in the U.S. in very remote locations. Typically, these areas do not have terrestrial wireless communications available. Iridium PTT is the ideal solution for supporting a fire team's field communications needs with each other and other first responders."

Iridium PTT works with Iridium's existing constellation and is compatible with Iridium NEXT, the company's next-generation satellite constellation, which is scheduled to begin launching in late 2015 and to be completed in late 2017.

 For more information on Iridium PTT, go to www.Iridium.com/IridiumExtremePTT.

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 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.

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. Iridium has based these statements on its current expectations and the information currently available to us. Forward-looking statements in this presentation include statements regarding the capabilities of the current Iridium constellation; the development and capabilities of the Iridium NEXT constellation, including the expected Iridium NEXT deployment and launch schedule; and the development and capabilities of the Iridium Push-to-Talk service. 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 Iridium NEXT development and functionality, potential delays in Iridium NEXT deployment or the development of Iridium Push-to-Talk, and Iridium's ability to maintain the health, capacity and content of its current satellite constellation, 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, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("the SEC") on February 26, 2015, as well as other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time. 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.

CONTACT: Press Contact:

         

         Diane Hockenberry

         Iridium Communications Inc.

         +1 (703) 287-7421

         Diane.hockenberry@iridium.com

Iridium(R) Push-to-Talk is the world's first global, satellite-based push-to-talk service, enabling instant communication between participants located anywhere on earth.