The Zoleo satellite communicator has launched in Australia allowing users to connect their smartphone and communicate via satellite when out of mobile coverage.
The latest player on the remote area communications market is, Zoleo, which has just launched its messaging service of the same name in Australia. Zoleo claims to the “world’s first seamless global messaging and personal safety solution for smartphone users”.
The device makes use of the Iridium satellite network which offers global coverage via 66 low-orbit satellites. The idea is you connect to it via Bluetooth and an app on your smartphone and when you lose mobile coverage, Zoleo kicks in and allows you to send message and GPS positioning via satellite. According to Zoleo, the system offers check-in, weather forecasts, and 24/7 worldwide SOS alerts “offer extra peace-of-mind when venturing off-the-grid”. Users also receive a dedicated SMS number and Zoleo email address.
“These messaging features, along with SOS alerting and GPS location reporting, make the Zoleo messaging experience far more seamless and familiar than anything on the market today,” said Michael Capocchi, Vice President of Zoleo Inc. and Managing Director of Beam.
One of the things separating Zoleo from other satellite messaging services is that it allows longer messages than similar services (950 characters vs 160). The device itself provides more than 200 hours of battery life and is designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -20-degrees C to 55-degrees C. It’s shock-resistant and features an IP68 rating for water and dust.
The Zoleo satellite communicator is available from more than 20 outlets in Australia and lists from $345 with monthly plans ranging from $32 to $80 for unlimited use. Worth noting is that you can suspend your plan when you’re not using it.
Stay tuned for a full Unsealed 4X4 test of the Zoleo satellite communicator.
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