Dial-Up Data




Dial-Up Data Service provides dial-up connectivity through your Iridium phone to another computer, a corporate network/LAN or an Internet Service Provider (ISP). This service offers a data rate of up to 2.4 Kbps.


You will be able to use Dial-Up Data service just as you would use the modem on your computer to dial a call through the public switched telephone network (PSTN). The only differences include the dialed telephone number must conform to the international dialing pattern used by Iridium, and you will use your Iridium phone as the data modem. In essence, your Iridium phone appears as an external modem to your computer.


To use Dial-Up Data Service, you must connect a PC to a data-capable Iridium phone, use a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that is provisioned for data, and install the Motorola Satellite Series(TM) Modem driver on your computer (provided on the Iridium World Data Services CD). You will then be able to use standard software applications (e.g., Microsoft Dial-Up Networking) to initiate data calls with Dial-Up Data Service.



How it works


You are probably familiar with using your computer and its modem to perform dial-up data applications across the PSTN. Most computers have an internal modem that connects to your telephone line. On your computer, you configure a dial-up networking connection. As part of that connection, you identify which modem to use and the phone number to dial. Then, in dial-up networking you enter your user name and password to access your ISP, and you initiate the connection. Your modem dials into and connects to another modem at your ISP. Once connected and a session has been established, you can check your email and browse the Internet.


Iridium Dial-Up Data Service functions in much the same way. From the perspective of your computer, the Iridium phone is an external modem. On your computer, you will configure a dial-up networking connection. As part of that connection, you will identify the modem associated with the Iridium handset and the phone number to dial. Then, in dial-up networking you will enter your user name and password to access your ISP, and you will initiate the connection. Your handset will dial and initiate a connection with the Iridium gateway through the Iridium satellite constellation. This connection setup is similar to how a voice call is established, except a data connection is requested. Since your Iridium handset is requesting to establish a data connection, the switch at the gateway will route the call through a modem. The modem at the Iridium gateway will then dial into and connect to another modem at your ISP. Once connected, and a session has been established, you can check your email and browse the Internet just