25 June 1998
Thanks to Anonymous
American Mobile Provides STU-III Capabilities for Its Satellite Communications Products June 23, 1998 5:29 PM EDT Provides Secure End-to-End Communications That Meet the Security Needs of The U.S. Government, Military and Intelligence Agencies RESTON, Va., June 23 /PRNewswire/ -- American Mobile Satellite Corporation (Nasdaq: SKYC) today announced that all of its Skycell(R) satellite communications products now can provide Secure Telephone Unit, Type III (STU- III) service, the national security standard for encrypting voice and data to ensure secure communications over public telephone networks. With American Mobile's new STU-III capabilities, government, military, intelligence agencies and law enforcement officials have secure, end-to-end voice communications anywhere in North America. American Mobile's Skycell(R) Satellite Communications Services currently offer private secure communications through its built-in digital security. However, with its new STU-III capabilities, American Mobile will be able to provide end-to-end security over a public switched telephone network, meeting the demanding security needs of U.S. government agencies. "Our new STU-III service allows government users to safely communicate sensitive and classified information anywhere in North America," said Walt Purnell, president of American Mobile. "When combined with the *OmniQuest(TM) satellite terminal, government employees will be able to make secure calls from remote locations for fast, mobile communications." To access Skycell(R) STU-III service, a STU-III Interface Unit (SIU) connects to the serial data port of any American Mobile approved mobile satellite terminal, such as the OmniQuest. Users then simply plug in a standard STU-III telephone into the RJ-11 port on the SIU and they are ready to make and receive secure calls from anywhere in American Mobile's Skycell(R) coverage area. The OmniQuest satellite terminal is manufactured by Mitsubishi Electronics and is the smallest and lightest satellite telephone available to commercial customers in the U.S. Weighing approximately five pounds and about the size of a notebook computer, the OmniQuest allows customers to cost-effectively manage their remote operations and provides them with reliable emergency back- up communications. Skycell Communications Services consist of a unique voice dispatch service that facilitates workgroup communications; circuit switched data communications; direct dial voice telephony; fax, and STU-III service. Skycell STU-III service, will be provided directly by American Mobile. The STU-III interface unit is sold separately and will also be available directly from American Mobile and authorized Skycell dealers. For more information, please contact American Mobile at 1-800-405-6543 or visit American Mobile's Web site at www.AmMobile.com. American Mobile Satellite Corporation American Mobile (www.AmMobile.com) owns and operates an integrated terrestrial/satellite network and provides a wide range of mobile communication services, including digital voice dispatch, data communications, dual-mode mobile messaging, position reporting services, and satellite telephone to the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and hundreds of miles of U.S. coastal waters. American Mobile services are used in the transportation, field service, maritime, two-way messaging and telemetry markets. The company's major shareholders include Hughes Communications Inc., Motorola, Inc., Singapore Telecom, and AT&T Wireless Services. *OmniQuest is a registered trademark of Mitsubishi Electronics America, Inc. Factors that could cause forward-looking statements in this news release to differ materially from actual results are discussed in American Mobile Satellite Corporation's Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 1997, and other periodic filings the company has made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the filings are available upon request from American Mobile Satellite Corporation's investor relations department. SOURCE American Mobile Satellite Corp. © PR Newswire. All rights reserved.