Iridium's latest sat phone - the Iridium 9555 - is a huge departure from most available "brick" satellite phones and looks very well on its way looks like a cell phone. Due to its handiness form characteristic as well as bright screen, the 9555 is foreseen to look for a large audience among first responders and public-safety consumers.

The satellite phone was announced at this week's Iridium Partner Event and is expected to be offered for customers by next month. Through its handiness form characteristic and also very bright screen. The phone has a mini USB port and functions e-mail capability.

Iridium phones are the only phones that can be used surely in any location, in any condition, instead of mobile, landline, or radio services that can become inoperable when sites go down or even communications base is compromised. The 9555 is the mobile phone that first responders will want to have on hand for copy emergency communications just in case of ordinary or man-made adversities.

A call made from one satellite phone to a new one will be totally routed through satellite gateways to make sure that the call isn't interrupted by any technical difficulties on the ground.

While still high-priced by cell phone standards, the 9555, including the new calling plans, is anticipated to have the phone into the cost range of more U.S. non-urban users, who can't get regular phone service. A refurbished Iridium phone can cost less than $1,000, though some company calling plans let consumers to call for as low as 15 cents per minute, though ordinary calls range from 99 cents up to $1.49 a minute.