Mumbai: To offer vital software for designing of a next-generation dual-mode satellite and GSM mobile phone for Inmarsat, Sasken Communication Technologies today has signed pact with EMS SATCOM, a part of EMS Technologies.

In an official report to the BSE, the company said that this agreement would see the first-ever mixing of Sasken’s complete development solution - the GSM/GPRS protocol and backing up application model into a dual-mode GSM and satellite phone.

The firm said that the new Inmarsat phone, to be brought out in early 2009, will provide remote field and help operations, and perk up the communication reach of private as well as governmental offices across far-flung corners all-through the world

Sasken also said that the company’s main contribution to the handset development would be in the software, which activates communication between the phone and the base stations or orbiters and in the application middleware and user interface.

Edwin Moses, Sasken Communications' Senior Vice President (Products), said, “This is a tremendous opportunity for Sasken, taking the company's market-proven modular, scaleable approach and now extending it to this new domain of satellite communications.”

The financial details of the deal were not disclosed yet.

International Maritime Satellite Organisation or Inmarsat runs a group of geo-stationary satellites intended to expand phone, fax and data communication to throughout the world.