Marine Communications System offers crew calling option.

Press Release Summary:



By connecting Crew Calling Gateway to TracPhone V7 system, mini-VSAT BroadbandSM Crew Calling System establishes link for dedicated crew calling phone. Crew members can purchase calling card or buy minutes directly from KVH and place calls to anywhere via dedicated phone while ship's business is handled via 2 VoIP lines that come standard with mini-VSAT Broadband service. Service offers VoIP telephone and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps for upload and 2 Mbps for download.



Original Press Release:



KVH Expands Versatile TracPhone V7 System with New Crew Calling Solution



Offering affordable access to VoIP calling via KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband service, the crew calling option will help improve crew morale and retention

MIDDLETOWN, R.I., June 9/ -- Commercial maritime operators investing to improve crew retention and welfare now have a new tool to call upon following today's introduction of the mini-VSAT Broadband(SM) Crew Calling System by KVH Industries, Inc., (NASDAQ:KVHI) at Nor-Shipping 2009 in Norway. This optional system expands the enhanced VoIP telephone services offered by KVH's mini-VSAT Broadband service and TracPhone(R) V7 antenna to provide an additional dedicated telephone line specifically for crew calling.

"In the highly competitive commercial maritime industry, offering affordable communications is an easy and effective step to help attract new crew members, improve crew efficiency and satisfaction, and reduce the costs incurred by crew turnover," explained Brent C. Bruun, KVH's vice president of sales and business development. "In a recent survey by ShipTalk, Ltd., professional mariners ranked access to a telephone as the second most important facility to have on board a vessel. By adding our crew calling option to a new or existing TracPhone V7 system, vessel owners and operators will take full advantage of their mini-VSAT Broadband service connection while enjoying the benefits to crew morale and retention rates that come when crew members are able to stay in touch with friends and family anywhere on the globe."

Adding the crew calling option is a simple process. A dedicated Crew Calling Gateway is connected to the TracPhone V7, thereby establishing a link for a dedicated crew calling phone. Crew members will be able to purchase a calling card from the ship's captain or buy minutes directly from KVH via credit card. They will then be able to place calls anywhere in the world via this dedicated phone while the ship's business is handled via the two enhanced VoIP lines that come standard with mini-VSAT Broadband service.

Together with the KVH TracPhone V7, the mini-VSAT Broadband service comprises the first end-to-end 24-inch VSAT hardware, service, and support package available for maritime communications. The mini-VSAT Broadband service currently offers Voice over IP telephone and Internet access as fast as 512 Kbps (upload) and 2 Mbps (download) at fixed monthly rates to mariners throughout North America, the Caribbean, the North Atlantic, Europe, the Northern Pacific, and the Persian Gulf. KVH also recently announced an agreement with SP-JSAT to expand mini-VSAT Broadband coverage into Asia Pacific waters and the Indian Ocean.

Visit www.minivsat.com/crewcalling for additional details regarding the new crew calling service, the TracPhone V7, and the mini-VSAT Broadband service.

About KVH Industries, Inc.

Middletown, RI-based KVH Industries, Inc., and its wholly owned subsidiary, KVH Europe A/S, are leading providers of in-motion satellite TV and communications systems, having designed, manufactured, and sold more than 150,000 mobile satellite antennas for applications on vessels, vehicles, and aircraft. KVH's mission is to connect mobile customers around the globe with the same digital television entertainment, communications, and Internet services that they enjoy in their homes and offices.

KVH and TracPhone are registered trademarks of KVH Industries. "mini-VSAT Broadband" is a service mark of KVH Industries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Svend Lykke Larsen | https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=87608

Brent Bruun | https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=85214

CONTACT: Chris Watson, KVH Industries, +1-401-845-8138, cwatson@kvh.com

Web Site: http://www.kvh.com/

http://www.minivsat.com/crewcalling

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