A collaboration between Latitude Technologies and navAero has resulted in an electronic flight bag with satellite communications capability. Latitude makes voice and data devices that use the Iridium satellite system, navAero makes the EFBs, and the partnership between the two has resulted in greatly expanded utility for EFB users. The new setup allows the EFB to be used as the telephone dialer and for sending and receiving text messages via the sat phone network. "Text messages from the cockpit and cabin can be sent and received with any web-connected device through Latitude's LWS Sentinel data service," Latitude said in a news release. "Received messages can be displayed in-flight through the EFB, a PDA, or a laptop computer. Crew and passengers can communicate using operator pre-defined messages, or messages can be typed freehand."
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/news/satcom-capability-for-efb