800th installation for GlobeMobile

Globe Wireless has announced the 800th installation of its GlobeMobile GSM solution.

GlobeMobile, launched in 2009, offers crew members voice and SMS capabilities, with crews simply having to insert the GlobeMobile SIM card into their GSM phone to connect to the service.

The GSM system is built on technology developed by Zynetix, a UK-based firm which originally provided services as a Globe Wireless partner before being acquired by Globe at the beginning of 2010.

GlobeMobile is also integrated into the Globe iFusion system, launched in September 2010, giving crew members prepaid access to voice and SMS messages from mobile phones as well as e-mail from shipboard computers.

At the time of the introduction of iFusion, Globe had indicated pricing for the services of $0.25 for SMS, $0.55 per minute for GSM voice (to landlines), and $5.50 per megabyte for e-mail.

Apart from the GSM system, Globe iFusion integrates a FleetBroadband 250, a firewall, a satellite gateway, a network router, an IP data compression device, and provides remote access to the vessel’s PC network.

Free onboard mobile to mobile calls are supported, as are multiple voice lines over the FleetBroadband terminal (though Globe notes that iFusion can also be used with VSAT and Iridium OpenPort terminals).

“I am very pleased with our success of being able to provide a high quality voice solution with inexpensive calling rates for GSM users onboard the ship,” said Dave Kagan, president of Globe Wireless.

“We understand how important it is for crew members to communicate back home and look forward to continuing with the installation and expansion of our affordable GlobeMobile GSM solution.”