Iridium Handheld Sat Phones Overview

Identify Your Iridium Phone

Motorola 9500
Motorola 9505
Iridium 9505a
Iridium 9555
Iridium 9575

Motorola 9500 (1998-2001)

  • Breaks easily when dropped
  • Chunky Power adapter

Motorola 9505 (2001-2004)

  • New shape, same charger
  • Can send and receive SMS

Iridium 9505a (2004-2008)

  • Same shape, new charger
  • New battery

Iridium 9555 (2008-present)

  • Smallest yet
  • Same charger

Iridium 9575 (2011-present)

  • Most rugged (IP65)
  • GPS tracking built-in
  • Same charger

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...


Motorola 9500

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...


Motorola 9505

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...


Iridium 9505a

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.


Iridium 9555

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!


Buy an Iridium 9555 online now!

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.


Iridium 9575

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!


Buy an Iridium 9575 online now!


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.