MCLEAN, Va., March 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) announces the commercial availability of the Iridium® Core 9523 transceiver. The Iridium Core 9523 further emphasizes the company's Iridium ForceSM vision of bringing vital building blocks to partners who develop innovative, portable communications devices. 26 Iridium development partners, including FLYHT, SkyTrac Systems and Fastwave Communications, have been working with the Company to design Iridium Core 9523-based voice and data communications devices. 

A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11973

Iridium operates the world's furthest-reaching communications network, enabling the Iridium Core 9523 to deliver connectivity everywhere through the smallest and lightest voice and data global transceiver ever available. Smaller than a credit card, this compact module is also "at the heart" of the new Iridium Extreme™, the most rugged satellite phone in the market. 

The Iridium Core 9523 reduces the size and cost of building devices around the embedded global satellite communications technology enabled only through Iridium. This transceiver serves as a catalyst for partners to create innovative new products that enable global connectivity. Delivered as a populated printed circuit board (PCB), the Iridium Core 9523 allows for compact partner product design.   

"The Iridium Core 9523 adds a new level of sophistication never before available in terms of satellite communications technology in handheld devices," said Joel Thompson, vice president, product management, Iridium. "Due to increased demand for global connectivity, advanced functionality and smaller devices, development partners increasingly come to Iridium seeking more compact and cost-effective solutions. Since cellular networks cover less than 10 percent of the planet, they know only Iridium provides the global reach their customers demand. We designed the Iridium Core 9523 not only to shrink the size of the Iridium Extreme transceiver, but also to enable smaller and lighter products from our partners."  

In addition to size, Iridium Core 9523-based devices have many other advantages over alternate satellite technologies. These devices will offer truly global coverage, utilize smaller and lighter antennas, and provide greater functionality due to higher data throughput and lower data latency.

The Company designed the Iridium Core 9523 as a simpler approach to product integration. The Iridium Core 9523 is 90 percent smaller than its predecessor transceiver. This smaller PCB form factor allows it to be more readily integrated into existing PCB designs, enabling designers to mount it right onto their product application boards to share components and power. 

Bill Tempany, president and CEO of AeroMechanical Services Ltd., an Iridium development partner marketed under the FLYHT brand, said, "The Iridium Core 9523, with its reduced power requirements, lighter weight and smaller size, is ideal for the AFIRS 228S, our global communications system for aircrafts. These factors are key design features in FLYHT's commitment to providing a highly efficient, light and robust solution to the aviation industry."

With the Iridium Core 9523, FLYHT is able to provide aircraft crew with reliable voice and data services through Iridium's global satellite network. The AFIRS 228S enables real-time data connectivity, both on the ground and in the air.

SkyTrac Systems, an Iridium development partner and supplier of satellite communications solutions for data, text and voice communications, has partnered with EuroAvionics GmbH & Co. to develop a flight following and satcom module using the Iridium Core 9523 that will be included within the EuroAvionics EuroNav 7 Situational Awareness System. SkyTrac is also developing a new "ISAT" system with the Iridium Core 9523. The ISAT-200A, an enhanced flight following and satellite communications system, provides multiple connections to various systems, an embedded accelerometer, and a hardened memory module for cockpit voice recording and aircraft data collection.

Iridium partner, Nick Daws, director of Australian-based Fastwave Communications, a developer in data acquisition systems for remote ocean-based observation systems and subsea sensor networks, said, "Due to the small form factor, low power consumption and capacity of the Iridium Core 9523 to support both short burst data and circuit switch data telemetry modes, it provides significant opportunities for our company to develop new applications for our systems for the highly demanding marine environment."

"The Iridium Core 9523 is a remarkable achievement, coupling a high-performance transceiver with a truly tiny package," said Craig Mathias, a principal with the wireless and mobile advisory firm Farpoint Group. "The Iridium Core 9523 opens up a vast array of new application possibilities, including many that were previously unaddressed in the satellite communications domain." 

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 .

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

         

         Meredith Strong

         FTI Consulting

         +1 (312) 861-4717

         meredith.strong@fticonsulting.com

The Iridium Core 9523 Transceiver is now commercially available for voice and data communications device developers seeking connectivity everywhere on Earth through the smallest and lightest global transceiver ever available.