Empresas y finanzas

Blue Ocean Wireless Appoints CEO



    Blue Ocean Wireless, an Irish company focused on delivering GSM
    communication capability for the merchant maritime sector, today
    announced the appointment of Mr Robert Johnson as CEO. Robert joins
    Blue Ocean Wireless from Inmarsat plc, the leading global satellite
    communications service provider, where he was Director of Maritime &
    Aeronautical Services.

    Robert Johnson led the Maritime and more recently the Aeronautical
    team at Inmarsat plc for nine years where he was responsible for the
    development of the company's maritime and aeronautical global
    satellite commercial communication business. Established in 1979,
    Inmarsat is the world leader in providing reliable voice and
    high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other
    organisations, with a range of services that can be used at sea, on
    land or in the air. The company's services are delivered through a
    network of 10 satellites and a global network of over 500 partners,
    including most of the world's leading telecoms groups, operating in
    180 countries.

    Prior to joining Inmarsat, Robert spent fourteen years in the
    commercial maritime sector at Racal-Decca Marine, now part of Sperry
    Marine, the leading international electronics and systems group, where
    he was responsible for product development of radar and other
    electronic navigational aids. He previously spent thirteen years at
    sea as a Deck Officer with Shell Tankers. Robert Johnson is a
    qualified Master Mariner and was recently honoured with The Livery of
    The Honourable Company of Master Mariners by HRH The Princess Anne.

    Blue Ocean Wireless

    Blue Ocean Wireless will, together with Inmarsat, a leading
    Inmarsat LESO partner and a leading GSM network operator, provide a
    dedicated global GSM service for crew members of merchant ships. For
    the first time, Blue Ocean Wireless will enable seafarers to use their
    existing mobile phones on board vessels in deep ocean water. Users of
    the service will be able to make and receive voice calls and send and
    receive SMS text messages using their existing handsets. Blue Ocean
    Wireless will also enable ship owners, insurers and Government
    authorities, as well as suppliers and customers, to track and monitor
    individual containers on board merchant vessels as they traverse the
    globe using a combination of GPRS and RFID technology.

    Domhnal Slattery, Chairman of Blue Ocean Wireless commented "We
    are delighted to announce the appointment of Robert Johnson as CEO of
    Blue Ocean Wireless. Robert's knowledge of the global maritime and
    aeronautical communications business and his experience working with
    the world's leading shipping and telecoms companies will be invaluable
    to Blue Ocean Wireless. Robert will now bring to market the Blue Ocean
    Wireless GSM crew calling and container monitoring proposition."

    Robert Johnson, incoming Blue Ocean Wireless CEO, added "I am
    delighted to be joining Domhnal and the team at Blue Ocean Wireless.
    We have a very exciting proposition which will revolutionise
    communication for crews of merchant maritime ships."

    He added "Having spent 13 years as a Deck Officer, I can relate to
    the need for accessible, reliable and affordable communication while
    at sea. Blue Ocean Wireless will, for the first time, provide
    seafarers with voice and SMS text message capability which will have a
    significant positive impact on their welfare. This will, in turn,
    benefit merchant maritime companies and the ability to manage and
    enhance the well-being of their employees."

    About Blue Ocean Wireless

    Blue Ocean Wireless is an Irish company focused on expanding
    communication capability in the merchant maritime sector. Blue Ocean
    Wireless provides, for the first time, GSM connectivity for seafarers
    in deep ocean water, where no other network exists. This allows users
    to make and receive voice calls, send and receive SMS text messages
    and, in time, browse the internet using their existing handsets. Blue
    Ocean Wireless' offering is based on Altobridge's unique 'Aeronautical
    & Maritime Gateway Platform' technology. This technology can also be
    used, in conjunction with RFID technology, to track and monitor
    shipping containers while they are in transit at sea.

    About Claret Capital

    Claret Capital, founded by Domhnal Slattery in 2005, is a private
    investment firm based in Dublin, Ireland. Claret Capital manages the
    assets of a small number of ultra high net worth individuals and
    families and has a global investment mandate. The firm has completed
    investments in the Private Equity, Real Estate, Media and Technology
    sectors. Claret Capital has also founded a number of new ventures
    including JetBird, Europe's first low cost on demand private jet
    airline. JetBird has ordered 100 aircraft from Embraer and is the
    launch customer in Europe for the Phenom 100 very light jet.

    About Altobridge

    Altobridge is focused on delivering cost effective communications
    for remote communities including rural villages, seafarers, airline
    travellers and the world's military, navy and coastguard. Altobridge's
    technology has also been licensed by AeroMobile, a joint venture
    between Telenor and ARINC to provide the world's first operational
    on-board aircraft mobile phone system.

    About Inmarsat

    Inmarsat plc (LSE: ISAT) is the leading provider of global mobile
    satellite communications. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing
    reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments,
    enterprises and other organisations, with a range of services that can
    be used on land, at sea or in the air. The company's services are
    delivered through a global network of over 500 partners, including the
    world's leading telecoms groups, operating in 180 countries. For the
    year ended 31 December 2006, Inmarsat plc had total revenue of
    US$500.1 million.