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Stratos Provides MISC Berhad with Customized Crew-Communications Solution

Posted on: Monday, 1 June 2009, 01:00 CDT

Popular AmosConnect Crew service supports MISC's crew-retention program

BETHESDA, MD, June 1 /PRNewswire/ - Stratos Global Corporation, the leading global provider of advanced mobile and fixed-site remote communications solutions, today announced it has been selected by its long-time customer MISC Berhad to provide a customized crew-communications solution for its entire fleet of more than 100 merchant vessels.

Stratos is deploying an MISC-branded version of its AmosConnect Crew communications solution to serve thousands of crewmembers, as part of MISC's "We Care" crew-retention program. The custom solution provides MISC crewmembers with new "MISC Crew Comm" cards to enjoy free private email, low-cost SMS and voice calling.

AmosConnect Crew is an all-in-one communication solution for crewmembers. Combining AmosConnect and ChatCard, two of Stratos' successful services, AmosConnect Crew enables personnel at sea to stay in contact with home via phone, email and SMS at low cost rates. It provides an easily manageable, separate account for each crewmember.

"This project is the latest chapter in our successful 10-year relationship with Stratos," said Nor Effendi B. Nordin, MISC manager, brand implementation. "They quickly delivered a private-label, integrated crew-communications solution that is ideally suited to support our crew-retention program."

He added, "Our crewmembers are very happy with this flexible, economical new service and our ship managers can easily use Stratos ChatCard Online to monitor card purchasing, usage and reloading."

Stratos President and CEO Jim Parm said, "We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our long-standing relationship with MISC by providing them with creative tools to help attract and retain qualified seafarers."

Several leading ship-management companies, including Hong Kong's Wallem and Germany's Blue Star, have recently deployed AmosConnect Crew to improve crew welfare. The service complies with the latest ITF recommendation to offer the option of free private email to all crewmembers.

By using AmosConnect Crew, seafarers only need one prepaid ChatCard to access all three modes of communication. In addition, individuals are assigned a vessel-independent personal mailbox plus an international SMS number that can be used on any ship and on shore. Receipt of SMS messages and email is free of charge. Along with the pre-paid aspect of the service, AmosConnect Crew enables users to easily manage their own communications budget.

AmosConnect Crew was originally developed in response to requests from ship managers who wanted a full crew-communication solution that would run entirely separate from the business communication onboard their vessels. AmosConnect Crew is based on the SMSCrewMail application from SMS Global Ltd.

AmosConnect Crew is part of The Stratos Advantage suite of value-added services that provide ship managers with optimal communications performance, management control and cost efficiency. Stratos is the largest supplier of mobile satellite services to the maritime industry, with communications to more than 40,000 maritime terminals worldwide. Stratos' industry-leading portfolio of maritime broadband satellite services includes FleetBroadband from Stratos, the VSAT solutions OceanVSAT and StratosITek, and Iridium OpenPort.

The value-added services comprising The Stratos Advantage provide users with cost and traffic control, high-usage metering, firewall management, data optimization, real-time traffic overviews, instant remote provisioning, high security options, easy VPN access, messaging services and a full IP range.

In addition to offering The Stratos Advantage, Stratos works with application partners to deliver broadband business solutions in key maritime business areas. These solutions include voyage management, remote management, IT management and cargo management, which help reduce fuel and operations costs and improve crew and customer satisfaction.

About MISC Berhad

MISC Berhad is one of Malaysia's largest international shipping lines. The Company's activities include ship ownership, ship operations, ownership and operation of offshore floating facilities, marine repair, marine conversion, engineering and construction. For more information, visit www.misc.com.my.

About Stratos

Stratos is the world's trusted leader for vital communications. Stratos offers the most powerful and extensive portfolio of remote communications solutions including mobile and fixed satellite and microwave services. More than 20,000 customers use Stratos products and industry-leading value-added services to optimize communications performance. Stratos serves U.S. and international government, military, first responder, NGO, oil and gas, industrial, maritime, aeronautical, enterprise, and media users on seven continents and across the world's oceans. For more information, visit www.stratosglobal.com.

SOURCE Stratos Global Corporation

Source: PR Newswire

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