Iridium, the world's first satellite-based phone system firm, is shutting down operations after less than two years. Iridium, the world's first satellite-based phone system firm, is shutting down operations after less than two years. Service to Iridium's 55,000 subscribers was cut off Friday at midnight. Parent company Motorola will maintain Iridium's $5 billion system of 66 satellites until the company can finalize plans to bump the costly equipment out of orbit....

Investment firm bids to save Iridium. investment firm bids to save iridium. A bankruptcy judge next week will consider a bid by a New York-based investment firm to acquire the Iridium satellite telephone company. A bankruptcy judge next week will consider a bid by a New York-based investment firm to acquire the Iridium satellite telephone company. In March, the court approved Iridium's request to cease operations and destroy its $5 billion constellation of more than 66 satellites by pulling them from orbit....

66 Iridium satellites to burn. 66 iridium satellites to burn. Motorola is completing plans to begin nudging the 66 Iridium satellites back toward earth where they will burn up in the atmosphere. Motorola is completing plans to begin nudging the 66 Iridium satellites back toward earth where they will burn up in the atmosphere....

Iridium satellites saved again. iridium satellites saved again. Earlier indications that the Iridium system of 66 satellites will not be decommissioned through destructive re-entry are apparently true. Earlier indications that the Iridium system of 66 satellites will not be decommissioned through destructive re-entry are apparently true. A New York bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of the satellites to Iridium Satellite, LLC for $25 million. The Iridium satellites are enjoyed by many astronomers as the design of the birds causes predictable and dramatic "flares" that are clearly visible with the naked eye For more on the sale, click washtech.com....

Pentagon props up Iridium satellites. pentagon props up iridium satellites. The US military brain center, the Pentagon, is going to spend $72 million to keep the 70 Iridium communications satellites in orbit. The US military brain center, the Pentagon, is going to spend $72 million to keep the 70 Iridium communications satellites in orbit. Motorola Corp. was to begin bringing down the Iridium system this month but the Pentagon money will allow a purchasing company, Iridium Satellite, to buy the birds....

Iridium satellite phones ring Friday. iridium satellite phones ring friday. Though the Iridium satellite system nearly "de-orbited" along with the Mir space station, new owners are set to relaunch the global phone system Friday. Though the Iridium satellite system nearly "de-orbited" along with the Mir space station, new owners are set to relaunch the global phone system Friday. Run by the Boeing Co., the Iridium system will reach everywhere on earth....

Tom Ridge joins Iridium board of directors. ridge joins iridium. Satellite phone provider Iridium today announced that Tom Ridge, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has joined the company's board of directors.. Satellite phone provider Iridium today announced that Tom Ridge, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has joined the company’s board of directors. Iridium hopes that Ridge will extend the firm’s reach by providing his "extensive experience on the global war on terror." Iridium claims that its "unique network design allows for switching and routing of mobile satellite communications in space," which the company believes makes the service "ideal for homeland security, defense, government, emergency, maritime and aviation applications."...

Satellite phone provider Iridium hits almost 250,000 users. As of now, Iridium still loses money, but EBITDA for 2007 reached $73.6 million, compared to $53.8 million in 2006. Iridium provides its phone service via a network of 66 low-earth-orbiting satellites. Iridium prepaid calling cards start at about $145 for 75 minutes and go up to $4250 for 5000 minutes, which translates into per minute charges between $0.85 and $1.93. Iridium cannot and doesn’t want to compete on a national level of communications and the company is far from being a mainstream provider....

Iridium Satellite LLC sent out a press release saying so, but then retracted the statement only hours later, saying the statement was a mistake....

The specific head used in the 5K160 carries a proprietary alloy combination, consisting of iridium, manganese and chromium (IrMnCr)....