Global Marine Networks (GMN), providers of fast and easy-to-use email, web and other hardware and software services for maritime, oil and gas, first responder and business continuity customers, has announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Vobal Technologies, provider of low-cost, high quality and secure VoIP and GSM 2G Solutions.

The company said that maritime customers will now be able to benefit from voice over IP (VoIP) services through the integration of its RedPort Global maritime services with Vobal technology services. Satellite VoIP services offer users 20 minutes of talk time/MB and enhanced voice quality.

In a release, Dr. Luis Soltero, president and CTO of GMN, said that, “RedPort Global satellite VoIP services are a complete voice solution for maritime VSAT and FleetBroadband users. All RedPort VoIP hardware will include a full PBX (News - Alert) to integrate or function as a vessel's primary communications system; prepaid voice access lets ship operators sell service easily to crew or passengers to create a new revenue stream, and satellite VoIP calls consume as little as 6 kbps thanks to the integration of Vobal technology.”

RedPort Global delivers satellite VoIP in addition to an extensive range of satellite network management solutions to support maritime and ship-to-shore communications. RedPort wXa routers have undergone Inmarsat (News - Alert) certification for compliance with Inmarsat VLA accounts used in FleetBroadband service.

FleetBroadband and IP-based data users leveraging RedPort Global, VSAT, can expect savings of up to 80 percent on their current satellite airtime usage. RedPort Global, VSAT also effectively speeds up data throughput by about 3-5 times and helps in the generation of new revenue opportunities via features such as prepaid email and Internet services for crew morale, passenger sales, as well as operations of the ship; compression, control and caching of data; cost-effective routing, load-balancing and failover.

Other capabilities include firewall filtering options via MAC or TCP/IP address and/or port number to deliver enhanced controls in addition to Skype (News - Alert) and Adobe Flash blocking; enhanced on-board management in addition to data covering weather and oceanography. RedPort Global, VSAT also offers GPS tracking and processing of credit cards.

In other news, Global Marine Networks (GMN) was recently named “Most Successful Solution Developer of 2011” by Inmarsat in recognition of its work providing satellite data hardware and services including XGate satellite email for Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro service and RedPort Global vessel network manager services for Inmarsat Fleet Broadband services.