Kyocera IRIDIUM KI-G100 - Manual (Page 32)

Kyocera KI-G100 GSM Handset - Ver.
0.3 Preliminary Version - 01.1999
Each IRIDIUM satellite is communicating with the next one, so that a call is
routed within the constellation before it goes down to earth via a terrestrial
gateway. A single IRIDIUM satellite footprint has a diameter of approx. 4400 km.
As the user approaches the perimeter of the satellite’s footprint a second
satellite footprint appears. Once the user is within the coverage of the second
satellite footprint a hand off to the second satellite occurs. Satellite handoffs
continue to occur so every 9 minutes approximately as long as the IRIDIUM user
is on air.
With conventional terrestrial cellular systems, the cells are fixed and the user
moves from cell to cell causing handoffs to occur. In the IRIDIUM system the cell
pattern moves across the user’s location which causes handoffs to occur.
Although it uses a satellite network instead of a terrestrial one, IRIDIUM is also a
GSM operator, interconnecting in the same way with other GSM terrestrial
operators and using the same type of SIM Cards. Therefore, unless you use an
IRIDIUM SIM Card, you can “roam” on the IRIDIUM network as you would do so
on another GSM network provided you have the IRIDIUM Adapter attached to
your KI-G100 phone and your home Network Operator has a Roaming
Agreement with Iridium.
When using your KI-G100 phone with its IRIDIUM Adapter on the IRIDIUM
network, please make sure that you are located outside, in a free area, i.e. not
between tall buildings (“urban canyon”) or trees that would limit the satellite
visibility. Always dial a telephone number with its country code (e.g. +49 2159
918396).
IRIDIUM 28