MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 24, 2011  -- Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) announces the commercial availability of a complete suite of Iridium AxcessPoint products and services. The suite includes the Iridium AxcessPoint Wi-Fi hotspot accessory, the free Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web optimization software, and the Iridium AxcessPoint Connect downloadable application.

"This innovative suite of Iridium AxcessPoint products and services enables smartphones and laptops to work anywhere in the world, easily and efficiently over the Iridium network," said Joel Thompson, vice president, product management, Iridium. "These new products, which are a first for the industry, are the epitome of our recently-unveiled Iridium Force vision. This is a terrific example of Iridium's commitment to enhance personal communications. We are making the world's furthest reaching network more accessible and cost-effective through devices that customers already use daily."

Iridium AxcessPoint Connect

Iridium AxcessPoint Connect is a downloadable application that turns any Windows laptop into a global Wi-Fi hotspot when connected to an Iridium Extreme or Iridium 9555 satellite phone. Iridium AxcessPoint Connect enables Wi-Fi-compatible devices to synchronize and respond to email, or use the Internet, over the Iridium network.

Iridium AxcessPoint Wi-Fi Hotspot Accessory

Iridium AxcessPoint is a portable and lightweight Wi-Fi hotspot accessory that connects smartphones or laptops to Iridium using an Iridium Extreme or Iridium 9555 satellite phone.   Iridium also is offering, at no additional charge, its Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web software for use with the Iridium AxcessPoint Wi-Fi accessory. 

Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web

Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web enables email and Internet services by optimizing them for use over the company's global network.  It maximizes the user's time on the Iridium network by managing the data connection and by improving the effective speeds. The software allows for offline viewing and composition of emails; configuration and filtering of large data files and attachments; and mid-file restart of attachment transfers if required. Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web automatically disconnects after the transfer of data, allowing ease of use and cost control. It provides a reliable connection anywhere and features built-in firewall protection to block extraneous Internet traffic for data speeds up to five times faster for web browsing and 15 times faster for email. Users of Apple operating system (iOS) devices, and Windows and Mac laptops, can register and download Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web software for use with Iridium AxcessPoint. BlackBerry and Android smartphone users can register and obtain set-up instructions for use of their devices with Iridium AxcessPoint. Iridium plans to make software for Apple iOS devices available by the end of 2011. 

"Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web is optimized for Iridium so it maximizes users' time spent on the network," Thompson said. "This application truly provides enhanced data communications efficiencies and cost savings. It improves the effective speed and reduces the amount of airtime required to send and receive emails. We expect existing and new Iridium customers to greatly benefit from the 10-12 emails per minute transfer rates that we have seen when using the product."

Iridium AxcessPoint will retail for less than $200 (USD). Iridium users can download Iridium AxcessPoint Connect and Iridium AxcessPoint Mail & Web free of charge at www.iridiumaxcesspoint.com. www.iridiumaxcesspoint.com also lists the many Iridium AxcessPoint service providers. Subscribers are required to use the services with an Iridium 9555 or Iridium Extreme phone. Standard per minute usage fees for airtime apply. 

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 trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbols IRDM (common stock) and IRDMW ($7.00 warrants). For more information about Iridium products, services and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com.

The Iridium Communications Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=10426

CONTACT:  Press Contacts:

          Liz DeCastro

          Iridium Communications Inc.

          +1 (703) 287-7421

          liz.decastro@iridium.com



          Jim Rhodes

          Rhodes Communications

          +1 (757) 451-0602

          jrhodes@rhodescomm.com