There is a new tool available for commercial maritime operators that can add an additional dedicated VoIP telephone line specifically for crew calling on KVH’s maritime VoIP services. The mini-VSAT Broadband Crew Calling System from KVH Industries

“In the highly competitive commercial maritime industry, offering affordable communications is an easy and effective step to help attract new crew members, improve crew efficiency and satisfaction, and reduce the costs incurred by crew turnover,” explained Brent C. Bruun, KVH’s vice president of sales and business development. “In a recent survey by ShipTalk, Ltd., professional mariners ranked access to a telephone as the second most important facility to have on board a vessel. By adding our crew calling option to a new or existing TracPhone V7 system, vessel owners and operators will take full advantage of their mini-VSAT Broadband service connection while enjoying the benefits to crew morale and retention rates that come when crew members are able to stay in touch with friends and family anywhere on the globe.”

According to KVH:
Adding the crew calling option is a simple process. A dedicated Crew Calling Gateway is connected to the TracPhone V7, thereby establishing a link for a dedicated crew calling phone. Crew members will be able to purchase a calling card from the ship’s captain or buy minutes directly from KVH via credit card. They will then be able to place calls anywhere in the world via this dedicated phone while the ship’s business is handled via the two enhanced VoIP lines that come standard with mini-VSAT Broadband service.

Together with the KVH TracPhone V7, the mini-VSAT Broadband service comprises the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications. The mini-VSAT Broadband service currently offers Voice over IP telephone and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates to mariners throughout North America, the Caribbean, the North Atlantic, Europe, the Northern Pacific, and the Persian Gulf. KVH also recently announced an agreement with SP-JSAT to expand mini-VSAT Broadband coverage into Asia Pacific waters and the Indian Ocean.
Source: http://www.voip-news.com

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On Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, TX, KVH Industries, Inc. announced a major new promotion designed to make it even easier for vessel owners to move from old “big dish” VSAT systems to KVH’s mini-VSAT Broadband service and TracPhone V7 hardware. The “Move Down to mini-VSAT Broadband” Upgrade Promotion is directed to current VSAT users at special rates offering hardware and airtime discounts to mariners that replace the old system with the new TrackPhone V7 and mini-VSAT broadband service. There is an option that gives mariners 3 months free airtime and up to 40% off the cost of hardware when purchasing outright.


“With this promotion, vessel owners can now enjoy lower airtime costs, smaller equipment, and lower hardware and installation costs, even as they upgrade their maritime satellite communications for faster Broadband connections, seamless global coverage, more reliable service, and better after-sale support than they’ve had in the past with older VSAT technology,” says Brent Bruun, KVH’s vice president of sales and business development. “We’re offering our customers an outstanding, very affordable opportunity to take the next step in communications at sea - a step that can dramatically improve efficiency, and make a fundamental change in the way they do business.”

The compact TracPhone V7 brings economy and speed with lower costs and easier installation. The mini-VSAT Broadband service avaiable for maritime communications offers VOIP phone service and Internet access as fast as 512 Kpbs (upload) and 2Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates.


KVH and TracPhone are registered trademarks of KVH Industries, Inc. mini-VSAT Broadband is a service mark of KVH Industries, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.
source : http://www.satprnews.com

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