Identify Your Iridium Phone
Motorola 9500 (1998-2001)
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Motorola 9505 (2001-2004)
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Iridium 9505a (2004-2008)
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Iridium 9555 (2008-present)
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Iridium 9575 (2011-present)
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Iridium have made a number of upgrades to their portable satellite phones. Here, we provide you with a summary of their features and benefits to help you work out which handset you have.
Motorola 9500
The first Iridium wireless satellite phone to provide complete global coverage...
Main Features
- Handset weighs 16.5oz
- Battery life of 16 hours on standby
- Talk time of 2 hours
- Data (Internet) capabilities when purchased with a data kit
- Plastic flap to cover keypad
- Volume keys on left hand edge
- SIM card eject button on right hand edge
- Extendible antenna (doubles length of phone when extended)
Pro's & Con's
- Plastic casing is slightly brittle
- Whole credit card size SIM card slots into bottom
- Bulky design - won't fit into an average pocket for example!
Motorola 9505
Slightly smaller and lighter than it's predecessor...
What's New?
- Handset weighs 14.5oz
- Battery life of 20 hours on standby
- Talk time of 2 hours
- Black RS232 data adapter needed for data (Internet) compatibility
- Infra-red Port on left hand edge
- Headset jack for hands-free use
- Extendible 9.5 inch antenna
- Reads 'Motorola' below the screen
Pro's & Con's?
- Slightly more weather resistant
- Again fairly chunky, especially with antenna retracted - still won't fit in your pocket!
- Antenna is stowed behind the unit, and rotates above to extend
- Iridium Accessories not compatible with Iridium 9505a
Iridium 9505a
Iridium 9505a succeeded the 9505 in December 2004...
What's New?
- Handset weighs 14.5oz
- Battery life of 20 hours on standby
- Talk time of 2 hours
- Grey RS232 data adapter needed for data (Internet) compatibility
- New small power jack to replace Infra-red Port
- New battery - this must be installed in order to power the phone
- New power charger
- Reads 'Iridium' below the screen
Pro's & Con's?
- Largely the same as previous model
- Iridium Accessories not compatible with Iridium-Motorola 9505
- No more compact than previous model
If you have one of the above models (9500, 9505, 9505a) we can supply you with all your Iridium accessories, call us today for more information!
Iridium 9555
Arguably the best handheld satellite phone on the market!
Great for both marine and overland use, the Iridium 9555 can function as a portable phone and as a fixed internet modem for emailing on the go.
What's New?
- Handset weighs just over 9oz
- Battery life of up to 30 hours standby
- Talk time up to 3.1 hours
- Mini-USB data port for connecting up to the Internet
- 30% smaller handset with antenna stowed inside the phone
Pro's & Con's?
- Easier to carry around - far more compact
- Integrated speakerphone
- Far higher quality antenna
- Can become unwieldy to use with everything attached (Iridium external antenna, data cable, hands free etc)
- Overall a much improved, slimmer, sleeker handset!
Iridium 9575
Arguably the best handheld satellite phone on the market!
Great for both marine and overland use, the Iridium 9575 can function as a portable phone and as a fixed internet modem for emailing on the go.
What's New?
- Essentially a 9555 with added GPS tracking system, in a water resistant, rugged, chassis!
- Handset weighs just over 9oz
- Battery life of up to 30 hours standby
- Talk time up to 3.1 hours
- Mini-USB data port for connecting up to the Internet
Pro's & Con's?
- Water resistant! (IP65)
- GPS Tracking System included! (automatic and manual reporting)
- Easy to carry around
- Integrated speakerphone
- Far higher quality antenna
- Can become unwieldy to use with everything attached (Iridium external antenna, data cable, hands free etc)
- Overall a much improved, slimmer, sleeker handset!
Summary
These satellite phones are great for anyone who is out of mobile/cell phone coverage, they provide completely global coverage so you'll still get a signal even when in the middle of the ocean!
Iridium portable satellite phones provide all the convenience of a mobile phone, so that you're never more than a quick call away from anyone, anywhere.