Iridium Satellite

Iridium allows communication almost anywhere on the planet. For people and Internet of Things (IoT) applications this communication can be essential. Our Iridium Satellite gateway service provides a means of communication using SMS and SBD, enabling Iridium users and devices to communicate with your systems and people.

The Melrose Labs Iridium API provides access to the services that are part of our Iridium Satellite service. All the services are accessible using a RESTful HTTPS interface or SMPP API. The Melrose Labs Iridium API commenced roll-out Q3 2019, starting with the ability to send SMS to Iridium devices.

• Send SMS messages to any Iridium device using SMPP API or HTTPS REST API call
• Receive SMS messages from Iridium devices and route to SMPP API account or HTTPS URL based on sender or receiver
• Store and retrieve received messages

REST API

The Melrose Labs Iridium Satellite service is available using our REST Iridium API.

curl https://api.melroselabs.com/iridium/sms/ \
	--header 'x-api-key: [API_KEY]' --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
	--data-raw '{"iridiumNo": "881631527577", "message": "Hello world"}'

{"transactionID": "0102016c7609d4d9-0f62ebe8-adfd-47ec-9f4e-e078de009327-000000"}

var request = require('request');
var options = {
  'method': 'POST',
  'url': 'https://api.melroselabs.com/iridium/sms/',
  'headers': {
    'x-api-key': '[API_KEY]',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({"iridiumNo": "881631527577", "message": "Hello world"})
};
request(options, function (error, response) { 
  if (error) throw new Error(error);
  console.log(response.body); // response is of type application/json
});

{"transactionID": "0102016c7609d4d9-0f62ebe8-adfd-47ec-9f4e-e078de009327-000000"}

import requests
import json

url = "https://api.melroselabs.com/iridium/sms/"
payload = {
	{"iridiumNo": "881631527577", "message": "Hello world"}
}
headers = {
  'x-api-key': '[API_KEY]',
  'Content-Type': 'application/json'
}

response = requests.request("POST", url, headers=headers, data = json.dumps(payload))

# response is of type application/json
print(response.text.encode('utf8'))

{"transactionID": "0102016c7609d4d9-0f62ebe8-adfd-47ec-9f4e-e078de009327-000000"}

<?php 
$data = {"iridiumNo": "881631527577", "message": "Hello world"}

$curl = curl_init();

curl_setopt_array($curl, array(
  CURLOPT_URL => "https://api.melroselabs.com/iridium/sms/",
  CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER => true,
  CURLOPT_CUSTOMREQUEST => "POST",
  CURLOPT_POSTFIELDS => $data,
  CURLOPT_HTTPHEADER => array(
    "x-api-key: [API_KEY]",
    "Content-Type: application/json"
  )
));

$response = curl_exec($curl);

curl_close($curl);

echo $response; // response is of type application/json
?>

{"transactionID": "0102016c7609d4d9-0f62ebe8-adfd-47ec-9f4e-e078de009327-000000"}

Iridium operates the world’s largest commercial constellation, with a mesh architecture of 66 cross-linked Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites providing inherent performance and dependability advantages over bent pipe geostationary (GEO) configurations. At only 476 miles (780 km) from the Earth, the proximity of Iridium’s LEO network means pole-to-pole coverage, a shorter transmission path, stronger signals, lower latency and shorter registration time than with GEO satellites.

Iridium SMS service offers mobile customers the only reliable lifeline to quickly and easily communicate critical information with employees, centralised host computer systems and loved ones anywhere on the planet. Messaging service is two-way, allowing Iridium users to send, receive, and respond to messages that are stored for up to seven days on the network and automatically delivered when phones are powered on.

Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) is a simple and efficient network transport capability for transmitting short data messages between equipment and centralised host computer systems. It is integrated by Iridium’s Value-added Resellers into vertical market applications in industries such as Oil and Gas, Rail, Maritime, Aeronautical, Utilities and Government/Military.

Melrose Labs Iridium Satellite SBD service will be released at a future date.