Mobile satellite firm Inmarsat has launched the IsatPhone 2 hand-held satellite phone, which offers voice calls, text and email messaging outside of cellular and fixed network coverage. The phone offers eight hours of talk time and 160 hours on standby, and runs on the global Inmarsat-4 satellite constellation.

The phone comes with a couple of useful features aimed at the remote worker sector. The first is an Assistance button, which in an emergency, sends GPS location data, together with a user-defined text message, to a pre-programmed number or email address. It also includes tracking capability, which can be used to show a users location on an interactive map.

The handset is dust, splash and shock resistant, and operates in a temperature range from -20°C to +55°C with a humidity tolerance up to 95 per cent.

“The IsatPhone 2 represents an important step forward in the capability of our satellite phone portfolio,” said Ronald Spithout, president, Inmarsat Enterprise. “This latest device demonstrates Inmarsats commitment to the satphone market and builds upon the remarkable success we have enjoyed already with the IsatPhone Pro.”