Russian company Classica announced successful completion of its experiment on integrating two satellite systems: NetStar system for high-speed asymmetric Internet access and Inmarsat communication system. The experiment was carried out in cooperation with RIEM Division, a distributor of Inmarsat equipment and services in Russia. It resulted in building a new system for mobile Internet access, dubbed NetStar Mobile.

The system will provide high-speed Internet access for users who cannot be physically connected to the Net by means of conventional landline communications, e.g., to those onboard ships and aircrafts. It allows to transfer the data in downward direction at a speed of 400 Kbps. The service is priced at US$ 1.5 per 1 Mbyte of data.

The set of CPE equipment for making a NetStar Mobile connection consists of the WorldPhone mobile terminal, receiving antenna, RF converter and satellite modem card with specialized software. The cost of this set, on exception of the WorldPhone terminal, is about US$ 500. The one-time fee for activating a single-user point in the system starts at US$ 150, on excess of the price of regular connection to Inmarsat system.

============== Microsoft announces Russian versions of Internet Explorer 5 and MSNBC portal

The office of Microsoft corporation in Moscow announced the Russian version of its new Internet Explorer 5 browser. Microsoft officials say it to be distinguished by a greater performance, simplicity of usage, and increased productivity of users' work in Internet.

Russian ISPs (Internet service providers) and ICPs (Internet content providers) have supported the release of the new Microsoft Web browser. Two ISPs, Glasnet and Cityline, provide operation of the Internet connection wizard. The three major Russian search engines, Aport!, Rambler, and Yandex, immediately perform the search in Internet content in Russian; these services are directly integrated in Internet Explorer 5.

In addition to the new browser, Microsoft officials presented the MSNBC project, which is being carried out by joint efforts of Microsoft and NBC. In Russia, the project is supported by Netskate company. The MSNBC.ru webserver will offer its visitors the abstracts of the most interesting MSNBC articles in Russian. MSNBC is an information channel, based on Microsoft technologies and presenting the news from NBC TV and radio broadcasting company. The Russian segment of MSNBC portal will include four principal sections: Editorial, Technology, Business and Health. The server is supposed to publish about one hundred news a day. The visitors may also download MSNBC News Alert - a small program which will inform them about the latest news on specific topics at both the MSNBC server and webservers of the leading Russian information agencies.

Source: InfoArt News Agency

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