KVH Industries is making it even easier for mariners around the globe to connect to the Internet by doubling the high-speed data rates for the Tracphone F77, the Inmarsat Fleet-compatible marine satellite communications system.

Tracphone F77 customers can now enjoy high-speed 128 kilobits per second (Kbps) Internet and data service.

And with KVH’s exclusive Velocity Acceleration software, broadband data connections as fast as 500 Kbps – roughly the speed of residential DSL or cable Internet service – can be achieved, depending on network traffic and the data being transmitted.

“Fleet managers, ship captains, and yacht owners want to be connected at all times, and they want their marine communications system to be as fast and as reliable as their home system. This service upgrade gives them that option,” said Ian Palmer, executive vice president of satellite sales for KVH.

“What makes KVH the leader in marine mobile satellite communications is our ability to continually deliver more powerful products that vessel owners need to operate efficiently at sea.

“The need to receive up-to-the-minute information critical to vessel safety, operation, and business is crucial and the broadband data rates for the Tracphone F77 make staying connected even easier than before.”

All new Tracphone F77 systems are equipped to operate with the 128 Kbps service and will receive this enhancement at no additional charge until August 31, 2005. After that time, an additional fee will apply.

Older Tracphone F77 systems are also compatible with the 128 Kbps upgrade.

In addition to two pay-by-minute ISDN options (128 Kbps and the original 64 Kbps), the Tracphone F77 offers global voice and fax services as well as Inmarsat’s Mobile Packet Data Service (MPDS), which is billed based on the amount of data transmitted and received rather than connection time.

Tracphone F77 is fully compatible with shipboard PABX systems as well as onboard networks (when connected to an IP router).

In addition the Inmarsat Fleet F77 service is designed to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) latest distress and safety specifications of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

Fleet F77 and Tracphone F77 are also both compatible with Inmarsat’s 4th generation of satellites ensuring that an investment in communications today will continue to pay dividends in the future.