New Two-Way Messaging From Worldcruising.net

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	worldcruising.net logo		JRC JUE-610DT Inmarsat D+ satellite pager
	worldcruising.net mapping		worldcruising.net system
	PDA with messaging		two-way messaging screen

Press Release: 14 September 2001

New Two-Way Messaging From Worldcruising.net

A new two-way satellite messaging service is now available from worldcruising.net, the internet position reporting service.

Sending and receiving e-mails is now possible using the small JRC Inmarsat D+ satellite pager, a hand-held PDA (personal digital assistant), such as the Compaq iPAQ, and the worldcruising.net messaging server.

The system has been specially developed by worldcruising.net and software developers Geodesys, to expand the capabilities of the Inmarsat D+ satellite pager. The first application of the new system will be for position reporting and communications with 36 two-person teams of rowing boats in the Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge which starts from Tenerife this October and finishes in Barbados.

For the rowing teams, equipment weight and electrical power consumption are critical issues. By using the Inmarsat D+ system, not only will their positions automatically be relayed to the event website, but also the teams can use the same equipment to communicate with the race organisers and friends ashore.

Specially developed software runs on the PDA which is connected to the JRC Inmarsat D+ terminal using a standard RS232 interface. Users can retrieve incoming e-mails, and send short text messages to an e-mail address using the Inmarsat D+ messaging function. Messages are sent via the Inmarsat satellite network to a land earth station, from where they are collected by the worldcruising.net messaging server and transmitted to the Internet.

To use the service, subscribers must be operating an Inmarsat D+ terminal registered with worldruising.net and a suitable PDA device. The worldcruising.net service also enables subscribers to automatically report their boat's position to the Internet, using their Inmarsat D+ terminal, Inmarsat C, or e-mail.

ENDS

Notes for editors:

Technical Specification

• The system is intended as a compact light-weight position reporting service with short text messaging capability.
• worldcruising.net two-way messaging requires a JRC Inmarsat D+ terminal, a PDA or laptop PC running Windows CE, Pocket PC, or Windows95/98 operating system, and the worldcruising.net messaging software.
• Out-going messages from the Inmarsat D+ terminal are limited to 56 characters per message, and incoming messages are limited to 200 characters.
• Incoming messages are sent to the D+ terminal as e-mail via the worldcruising.net server.
• The Inmarsat D+ terminal automatically sends a position report to the worldcruising.net website at www.worldcruising.netusing its in-build GPS.

Background Information

• Worldcruising.net provides an Internet based position reporting system for boats at sea using Inmarsat D+, C or e-mail systems from the vessels.
• Worldcruising.net is operated by World Cruising Club, organisers of the world's most popular yachting rallies, and is a part of Challenge Business. · Other World Cruising Club events include the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), and the Yachting Monthly Rally Portugal.
• Challenge Business events include the BT Global Challenge, the Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge, the Challenge Transat 2002.
• Geodesys, through their immensely powerful StruMap product provide geographically based solutions to a variety of businesses within the UK and overseas. Geodesys supply World Cruising Club with the cutting edge internet based technology which powers the worldcruising.net system.

Contacts:

• worldcruising.net: visit www.worldcruising.net or telephone James Hall on tel. +44 (0)1983 296060 , e-mail: [email protected]
• Challenge Business: visit www.challengebusiness.com or call Rachel Anning on tel. +44 (0) 1453 836 333, e-mail: [email protected]
• Geodesys: visit www.geodesys.com or telephone Dave Ladbrook on +44 (0)1480 482042

World Cruising Club, 120 High Street, Cowes, PO31 7AX, England

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