DATA-ENHANCED satellite communications is now a viable option not only for merchant vessels but also for leisure vessels and yachts, following a significant enhancement to the Fleet F33 solution announced by Inmarsat and equipment manufacturer Thrane & Thrane.  
 
The addition of a Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS) capability for Fleet F33 introduces a flexibility and cost-efficiency that was previously only available to larger terminals. With the Fleet F33 terminal, the same service is now delivered on a platform that is small, affordable, and lightweight.  
 
At an event on 31st March 2004 for the world's yachting and leisure sector press, onboard the Isle of Wight ferry Red Eagle, Thrane & Thrane successfully demonstrated live videostreaming, instant messaging, and secure VPN access using the MPDS capability of Fleet F33.  
 
MPDS operates in a similar manner to a GPRS mobile phone; the data connection is maintained permanently, but users are only charged for the amount of data sent or received, not the time spent online. It is particularly useful for 'static' applications that involve some downtime, or time during which data is not transmitted, such as reading an e-mail or viewing web pages. For instance, a user reading a document while connected to his corporate LAN over a dialup connection will be charged for that time, whereas a user over an MPDS connection will be charged only once to receive the data.  
 
''Users may already be familiar with this type of technology on their mobile phones,'' said Robert Johnson, Director of Maritime Business at Inmarsat. ''By offering an MPDS option for Fleet F33, we can give them the same benefits when they're at sea, anywhere in the world - well beyond the reach of a GSM phone mast!''  
 
Like the dialup service, MPDS can be used to access e-mail, the web, instant messaging, real-time weather updates, and other online navigational information.  
 
Fleet F33, launched in April 2003, already delivers voice in the global beam areas, Group 3 fax and dial-up data at 9.6kbit/s in the spot beam areas.  
 
A progressive global roll-out of the F33 MPDS service is now under way.  
 
Thrane has successfully completed terminal testing for its Fleet F33 offering, and is expected to be the first manufacturer to offer MPDS commercially over the service. Casper Jensen, Maritime Market Manager at Thrane & Thrane, said: ''The introduction of MPDS to Fleet F33 creates a very flexible and powerful service, contained in a small and lightweight piece of equipment that won't compromise the real-estate on your boat. Every detail - from the simple installation to the low-power requirements - has been designed to suit the needs of the leisure sector''.  
 
Thrane & Thrane has fitted a Capsat® Fleet F33 terminal to the newly refurbished vessel of Ellen Macarthur, B&Q. It joins the Capsat® Fleet F77 and Fleet F55 already used by the award-winning yachtswoman, who joined the press conference by Inmarsat satellite phone while sailing off the coast of Uruguay.  
 
''MPDS on Fleet F33 provides a real enhancement for owners of leisure vessels who are considering satellite communications - the comprehensive solution includes a fax service, compatibility with standard PCs and software, internet connection integrated as standard, and a global voice service. It's an unrivalled and highly-attractive package, designed for users whose data needs are increasing as a result of home and office computing,'' said Robert Johnson.