Iridium satellite phone reseller Rocom Wireless is importing the kits which users to send and receive data via their handsets.
Users can already send data using their own ISPs but the traffic moves at a leisurely 2.4Kbit/s. With the data kits, which consist of a serial connector and software, speeds of up to 10Kbit/s are possible.
While pricing hasn’t yet been set, a Rocom spokesman believes data will be charged at around $US1.50 a minute. The kits should arrive in New Zealand in the next three weeks.
“It only works with the Motorola 9500 phones at the moment - there’s a bug in the software on the 9505s. It also depends on the software on the phone itself - older phones will need a flash upgrade,” says the spokesman.
Iridium’s satellite network was about to be “de-orbited” after the company went into receivership, however a contract from the US department of defence revitalised the service.