Scalable “Future-Proff” Simphone OpenCabin System Chosen For All Cabin Telecommunications, Including HD Voice, Wi-Fi High-Speed Data And Smartphone Support
Ottowa, Canada | October 10, 2011 — TrueNorth Avionics has announced its selection by Jet Aviation Basel to provide its full cabin telecommunications solutions for the latter’s world-renowned completions and maintenance facility for VIP Aircraft. Airborne telecommunications for these high-level aircraft is being supported by TrueNorth’s Simphon e¯ OpenCabin system, which provides Wi-Fi, high-speed data integration, fax, HD Voice, corded and cordless handsets with credit card readers, along with worldwide Iridium®, Inmarsat, and high-speed Ku Satcom on aircraft types ranging from the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ) to Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer and Gulfstream aircraft types.
“With their experience in serving some of the world’s most demanding aircraft operators, we’re delighted that Jet Aviation has chosen TrueNorth as their airborne telecom partner,” said Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth’s president and CEO. “And while our systems have demonstrated an industry-leading level of reliability, we’re equally proud that Jet Aviation has recognized that our commitment to performance, product quality and customer satisfaction is as strong as their own,” he added.
A revolutionary software-centric system, the Simphone¯ (pronounced ‘symphony’) OpenCabin system brings an unprecedented degree of reliability, operator control and communications capabilities to business aviation. Since existing airborne telecom systems were heavy, complex, expensive to install and operate, and prone to obsolescence, TrueNorth developed a solution that addressed all those concerns, with benefits that include robust performance; an unlimited lifespan; significant long-term cost savings; and the ability to easily add a wide variety of custom features.
New Stylus Handset Combines Multilingual Operation, HD Vice Quality And Unlimited Personalization Features In Stunning New Design
Ottowa, Canada | October 10, 2011 — TrueNorth Avionics has announced the introduction of business aviation’s first multilingual handset, the TrueNorth Stylus, which also incorporates TrueNorth’s intuitive, one-button interface; HD Voice Quality for near broadcast-quality voice communications; wired and wireless configuration options; and personalization options that include custom materials to match the décor of any cabin or aircraft interior. Designed to match the footprint of TrueNorth’s previous-generation handsets, the Stylus is the first sleek, modern interpretation of an airborne handset design, and can be programmed to operate in any language, including those with dedicated character sets such as Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Russian.
“As a world company supporting business aviation operators around the globe, we felt it was important to offer our international customers this level of consideration and support,” said Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth’s CEO. “Even though we realize that English is the international language of aviation, we also understand that business aircraft operators — the actual users of airborne telecommunications systems — may be more comfortable and productive using a telecom system with an operating system that works on their own terms,” he added.
The Stylus handset’s advanced capabilities are enabled in part by TrueNorth’s revolutionary software-centric Simphone¯ (pronounced ‘symphony’) OpenCabin telecommunications system, which brings an unprecedented degree of reliability, operator control and communications capabilities to business aviation. Since existing airborne telecom systems were heavy, complex, expensive to install and operate, and prone to obsolescence, TrueNorth developed a solution that addressed all those concerns, with benefits that include robust performance; an unlimited lifespan; significant long-term cost savings; and the ability to easily add a wide variety of custom features.
HD capability uses digital audio to improve both voice calls and faxes made over Inmarsat Swift Broadband®
Ottawa, Canada – May 17, 2011 —TrueNorth Avionics, the fast-growing developer of executive airborne telecom solutions, has introduced HD Voice (HDV), an enhancement to its advanced Simphone¯ OpenCabin® system that provides a significant quality improvement over other phone systems on calls made via the Inmarsat Swift Broadband and Swift64 Satcom links. Delivering crystal clear voice fidelity with less delay, TrueNorth’s digital HD Voice — another industry first from TrueNorth — also offers more robust and reliable faxing over Inmarsat Swift Broadband. The Airbus Corporate Jet Centre is the launch customer for HD Voice aboard its series of A319CJ aircraft, followed by a B777 business aircraft installation performed by AMAC. HD Voice can also be retrofitted to existing Simphone¯ OpenCabin systems, with no additional hardware units required.
“We have heard from our customers that high quality voice calls are important to them, so we developed this breakthrough voice application using digital audio to provide them with crystal clear, low-latency calling. We call this ‘HD Voice’ because voice calls are so good they’re virtually the quality of digital broadcast audio,” said Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth’s president.
The Simphone¯ OpenCabin system uses a suite of enterprise-level software applications (‘apps’) to add functionality and growth. Where current hardware-centric systems are heavy, expensive to install, complex and prone to obsolescence, Simphone¯ OpenCabin turns a business aircraft into an extension of a company’s corporate IT and telecom networks. Benefits include robust, ‘office-in-the-sky’ performance; an unlimited lifespan; significant lifecycle cost savings, since hardware needs to be installed only once; and the ability to add a wide variety of custom functions by simply uploading software.
Simphone¯ OpenCabin Airborne Telecom System Impresses Operators & Dealers With Its Simple, Secure, Modular Approach, Prompting Dallas Avionics To Become An Exclusive Stocking Distributor
Ottawa, Canada – June 9, 2010 — TrueNorth Avionics, Inc. and Dallas Avionics of Dallas, TX, have expanded their distribution agreement to meet increased demand for the revolutionary Simphone¯ OpenCabin airborne telecommunications system, the first airborne phone system that’s as secure and reliable as it is easy to install. Recognized by Dallas Avionics as the ideal solution for business aircraft operators and dealers, Simphone¯ OpenCabin uses a menu-driven interface and software applications to simplify smartphone use, Internet data handling and Wi-Fi security; provides an exclusive operator-controlled tool for managing service costs; and eliminates installation problems for with its one-box LRU. With this agreement, Dallas Avionics will become a stocking distributor for Simphone¯ OpenCabin and will sell and support the TrueNorth system exclusively throughout North America.
The industry’s first software-centric telecom system, Simphone¯ OpenCabin brings business-class telecom features to corporate aviation and impresses with its ability to work simply and reliably. Added benefits of the all-digital system include unlimited service life, interfaces to all off-aircraft networks, built-in secure Wi-Fi and data routing, and superior voice quality.
“Since NBAA last year, we’ve experienced an unprecedented demand for our Simphone¯ OpenCabin product, and we just can’t keep them on the shelves,” said Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth’s president. “Now, with Dallas Avionics as our exclusive stocking distributor, operators will be able to get the industry’s best telecom system and most secure Wi-Fi with virtually no lead time. And with the known vulnerabilities of the other major airborne systems allowing unsecured access to aircraft networks, we don’t want operators to be disappointed by not getting Simphone¯ OpenCabin,” he added.
“We’re very excited about the prospect of representing the full TrueNorth product line since, in evaluating their systems, it’s clear that Simphone¯ OpenCabin is by far the most capable, secure and powerful airborne phone system available. In fact, I tell operators that it’s so advanced, it’s simple,” said W. Scott Davis, Vice President of Dallas Avionics. “With our network of sales representatives and automated distribution system, we look forward to helping bring TrueNorth the recognition it deserves, while eliminating the operating hassles so common with the complicated, hardware-driven systems sold by all the other airborne phone manufacturers,” he added.
Advanced software-centric airborne system will replace MagnaStars® on U.S. government C-37A VIP transport aircraft
Ottawa, Canada (April 7, 2010) — TrueNorth Avionics, Inc., has been selected to provide its Simphone¯ OpenCabin airborne telecommunications system for a second U.S. Air Force government VIP transport aircraft under the TARS (terrestrial aeronautical radiotelephone system) program, becoming the standard airborne telecom system for the Special Air Mission C-37A (Gulfstream V) fleet. The new contract, representing 9 aircraft systems (plus spares) in 2010 alone, is a significant follow-on to TrueNorth’s selection in 2009 for the Air Force’s C-37B (Gulfstream 550 model) VIP fleet. Under that contract, Simphone¯ OpenCabin is being installed in new aircraft, with C-37B completions done by Gulfstream/Long Beach. Initial installations for the C-37A retrofit program are being performed by Gulfstream/Savannah.
A revolutionary software-centric concept, the new Simphone¯ (pronounced ‘symphony’) OpenCabin system uses a suite of enterprise-level software applications (‘apps’) to bring advanced voice and data management capabilities to business aviation. Since current hardware-centric airborne telecom systems are heavy, complex, expensive to install and prone to obsolescence, TrueNorth developed a converged solution that interfaces with virtually any corporate aircraft, turning the airplane into an extension of ground-based IT and communications networks. Benefits include robust performance, an unlimited lifespan, enterprise-level security, significant long-term cost savings and the ability to add a wide variety of custom functions by simply uploading software.
“We’re pleased that the U.S. government, like so many business aircraft operators, has also determined that Simphone¯ OpenCabin is the way to eliminate problems with complex airborne data routing, limited Internet service, porous security, poor quality voice and obsolete hardware-centric equipment,” said Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth’s CEO.
New TrueNorth system to be installed by BizJet International on all program completions
Ottawa, Canada (March 1, 2010) — TrueNorth’s new Simphone¯ OpenCabin system has been selected by BizJet, a specialized provider of custom VIP, corporate and government aircraft, as the airborne telecommunications solution for the Airbus A318 Elite program. Simphone¯ OpenCabin systems will include a Wi-Fi local area network (LAN), high-speed data integration, TrueNorth’s corded and cordless handsets with available credit card readers, and an option for Iridium worldwide Satcom service. Installations will be performed under an FAA/EASA STC at BizJet’s newly expanded completion center in Tulsa, OK.
“We were impressed with the range and depth of capability, as well as the quality and customization options offered by TrueNorth’s OpenCabin system,” said Kai Roepke, V-P Corporate Completions for BizJet. “Our VIP customers expect the best and latest features, and with full VoIP capability, walk-on use of their own Wi-Fi smartphones and an open architecture that accommodates literally every available airborne communications network, the Simphone¯ OpenCabin solution is the ideal fit for the A318 Elite program,” he added.
“We’re very pleased that BizJet, which specializes in supporting the most demanding operators, saw the value of choosing Simphone¯ OpenCabin for airborne communications solution,” said Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth’s president. “This contract is further confirmation that, with its unique ability to add features and stay current throughout the life of the airframe, as well as its enterprise-level security, Simphone¯ OpenCabin is the new standard in airborne business telecommunications,” he concluded.
A revolutionary software-centric concept, the Simphone¯ (pronounced ‘symphony’) OpenCabin system uses a suite of enterprise-level software applications (‘apps’) to bring advanced voice and data-management capabilities to business aviation. Since current hardware-centric airborne telecom systems are heavy, complex, expensive to install and prone to obsolescence, TrueNorth developed a converged solution that turns a company’s aircraft into an extension of its corporate IT and communications networks. Benefits include robust, ‘office-in-the-sky’ performance; an unlimited lifespan; significant long-term cost savings; and the ability to add a wide variety of custom functions by simply uploading software apps.
New TrueNorth cabin communications system selected after independent ‘fly-off’ test
Ottowa, Canada (February 9, 2010)– After independent tests among the leading airborne telecommunications systems, TrueNorth’s advanced Simphone¯ OpenCabin system has been selected for retrofit on its first Falcon 900EASy executive aircraft. Determining that only Simphone¯ OpenCabin offered the clarity, volume, longevity and performance its executives desired, the corporate Falcon EASy operator sent their newly delivered aircraft to the Dassault Service Center in Wilmington, DE, for a telecom upgrade to TrueNorth.
A revolutionary software-centric concept, the new Simphone¯ (pronounced ‘symphony’) OpenCabin system uses a suite of enterprise-level software applications (‘apps’) to bring advanced voice and data-management capabilities to business aviation. Since current hardware-centric airborne telecom systems are heavy, complex, expensive to install and prone to obsolescence, TrueNorth developed a converged solution that interfaces with virtually any corporate aircraft, turning the airplane into an extension of the company’s IT and communications networks. Benefits include robust performance; an unlimited lifespan; enterprise-level security; significant long-term cost savings; and the ability to add a wide variety of custom functions by simply uploading software.
“We’ve heard that operators of these high-end aircraft are tired of noisy, poor-quality voice calls, where passengers complain about not being able to communicate clearly. They want to be heard ‘loud and clear’, and Simphone¯ OpenCabin lets them do that, along with many other things,” noted Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth’s president.
In-flight entertainment and related technologies, such as onboard Internet access, are critically important to the passengers I speak with every day. An authoritative resource about the latest developments in the in-flight entertainment industry will lead to better products and happier customers.”