Inmarsat and GEOS bring life-saving emergency response facilities to the IsatPhone 2
Global safety and personal security functionality enhances IsatPhone 2
04 February 2015: From today, Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services, is offering all post-pay IsatPhone 2 customers free-of-charge access to GEOS’ Worldwide Emergency Response Coordination service.
The service takes advantage of the IsatPhone 2’s one-press assistance button, located at the top of the handset. GEOS’ service allows customers to contact the GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC), simply by pressing the assistance button. Pressing the button triggers a message containing the user’s GPS co-ordinates, sent over Inmarsat’s global satellite network.
Once the emergency notification request is received, the response centre; staffed 24-7 and located in Houston, USA, will contact the user directly and establish the nature of the emergency. GEOS staff will then notify the appropriate authorities based in region to begin search and rescue procedures.
“Increasingly, safety and security are paramount concerns amongst purchasers of satellite phones who often work in isolated or volatile areas,” said Greg Ewert, President, Inmarsat Enterprise. “The GEOS service is an excellent complement to the IsatPhone 2’s tracking functionality, and coupled with the global reach of Inmarsat’s reliable satellite network, will provide a welcome peace of mind for new and existing IsatPhone 2 customers.”
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Inmarsat IsatPhone 2 users to the broad global family of members all over the world protected by the GEOS global umbrella” stated David Ruby, CEO of GEOS Worldwide.
The service is available free-of-charge to all existing and new IsatPhone 2 post-pay customers. Pre-pay customers can also access the service; however GEOS will charge an annual fee.
GEOS also offer Inmarsat customers additional membership benefits to defray search and rescue and medivac costs, details of which are also provided in a leaflet inserted into new IsatPhone 2 boxes, as well as on the GEOS website, www.geosalliance.com.
About Inmarsat
Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centers of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L). For more information, please visit www.inmarsat.com.
The Inmarsat press release newsfeed and corporate updates are on @InmarsatGlobal.
About GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center
The GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center (IERCC) was founded in November 2007 with the culmination of various 24/7 monitoring centers that individually focused on travel safety, security services and monitoring for clients. Staffed, equipped and prepared to respond worldwide with the push of a button, an automatic emergency alert or a simple phone call, the mission of the GEOS IERCC is to aid in the rescue of all savable lives whether at land, air or sea. The center receives the alert and notifies the appropriate authorities to execute the SAR mission and maintains a liaison with the family, first responders, and in some instances, a user’s embassy, keeping all parties up to date with new position information, updated medical information and any other pertinent data until the mission or call is resolved.
