Emergency Services
Can I dial "911" on an Iridium satellite phone?
Yes. 911 Emergency Service is available in the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands by dialing "911" and pressing "OK"or the green soft key. When the call is made, it is automatically routed to Iridium’s selected 911 emergency call center provider, Intrado. After determining the nature of the emergency, Intrado will route the call to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point.
Does Iridium have contingency plans in the event of blackouts and emergencies?Iridium has backup electrical power and communication connectivity for both gateway and command and control functions to continue to offer services over the Iridium network in emergency situations. Iridium will support satellite-to-satellite connections without interruption. While most elements of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) should be immune, these are external elements outside of Iridium's control and therefore cannot assure PSTN connectivity in such situations.
Does Iridium support International SOS?Iridium no longer supports the short code to reach the nearest 24-hour alarm center. Iridium subscribers who also have a International SOS subscription can use their Iridium phone to contact the International Alarm Center that is closest to their location. To obtain a list of the most current phone numbers for the appropriate geography, please visit International SOS’s website or contact your International SOS representative for more information.
How reliable is the Iridium network in the event of a natural disaster?Space-based cross-links make Iridium impervious to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes, which can damage ground-based wireless towers. Calls are routed among Iridium satellites without touching the ground, creating a highly secure and reliable connection.
Equipment
Can I still use my Kyocera phone?Kyocera phones were distributed by the previous Iridium, LLC. The phones are legacy equipment manufactured under agreement for the previous company and are no longer covered by any warranty. Technical support cannot be offered by Iridium or Kyocera and there is no guarantee of compatibility with the Iridium satellite network, as significant improvements and upgrades have been made to our system since the previous Iridium, LLC. However, in certain situations, Iridium subscribers have been able to reactivate these phones and use them for Voice service only. However, Iridium recommends using hardware with the most current software for optimal network performance.
Can I use my mobile / cellular phone number with my satellite phone?Number portability does not apply to satellite phones, meaning you would not be able to take your mobile number with you.
Does Iridium offer an alternative to the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger?The Solara Field Tracker 2000 offers real-time GPS tracking and can transmit and receive messages in less than a minute. It is designed and built by Solara, an Iridium authorized Value Added Reseller, for easy portable use in the toughest, most extreme environments. For more information about the Field Tracker 2000, visit: http://www.solaradata.com
Does Iridium offer weather charts and / or GRIB file transfer capabilities?
Global Marine Networks, an Iridium Value Added Developer, offers a range of products for Gridded Binary (GRIB) data files and weather mapping. GRIB files are more compact than regular weather charts and, because of their size, are perfectly suited for download via wireless means.
Does Iridium sell or support GSM cellular cassettes?
Iridium is a satellite communications provider and currently does not support the use of Cellular Cassettes.
How can I test that my satellite phone is working properly?
Iridium, in partnership with ProtectingAmerica.org and the American Red Cross, encourage all users to test their satellite phones before an emergency strikes. You can test your phone for free by dialing 00-1-480-752-5105. For additional information, visit: http://testyoursatellitephone.com
How do I transfer / copy my current phonebook to my new Iridium phone?
The Iridium phonebook tool provides the ability to save stored numbers from the phonebook or SIM phonebook.
How do I view my Iridium phone number on the 9505A?
To view your phone number from your SIM card, press "Q" followed by "#." If you do not see your phone number, the number has not been programmed onto your SIM card. You can program your phone number onto your SIM card by following the steps described on page 82 in the 9505A Portable Phone User Guide.
Is the Iridium World Time Converter still supported?
The Iridium World Time Converter is no longer supported or maintained, as this was a feature of the previous Iridium, LLC. We recommend using http://www.worldtimeserver.com as an alternate time converter.
What are the ideal temperature conditions for the Iridium handset?
Please refer to the user manual under Battery Information > Maximizing Battery Life for specific information.
Where can i find the Declaration of Conformity for the 9505A?
The Declaration of Conformity may be found on page 180 of the user guide. The 9505A unit is Type approved by the FCC, EU, and Canada. In addition, the phone is approved for use by the ITU and bears the ITU mark.
Why does my Caller ID say "Private" when receiving a call from an Iridium phone?
Iridium does not have any control over how Caller ID is displayed; the landline carrier determines if a call from an Iridium phone is displayed as “Private” or is otherwise unidentified.
Why isn't my Qualcomm phone compatible with the Iridium network?
Qualcomm phones are proprietary equipment that work only on the Globalstar network. In addition, Iridium phones are satellite only and do not work with GSM SIM cards issued by mobile phone carriers.
With the release of the 9555, are older phones (9500 and 9505) still supported by Iridium?
Yes, the 9500, 9505 and 9505A are still supported on the Iridium network. However, these phones may need software upgrades in order to connect to a laptop for data services.
