International Communications Group (ICG) is upgrading its aircraft satcom offerings with a new ergonomic and cordless phone handset.

Based on proven digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) technology, the new ICG cordless phones have been modified for compliance with requirements for fire retardency and emissions on aircraft. The installation includes a custom-designed cradle that provides charging current and latches the handset firmly in place, and a base unit that is typically mounted in a hidden non-metallic area. One or more cordless systems can be installed in the cabin, each providing a private telephone circuit connected to the aircraft's cabin telecommunications unit (CTU) or ICG Iridium system via a standard two-wire telephone circuit or directly to an aircraft satcom terminal via the 4-wire audio circuit.

The ICG Cordless systems incorporate active noise reduction to minimize the effects of cabin noise as well as an automatic handset shut-off circuit to preserve battery power when the aircraft is not running. The systems are available as either 2-wire or 4-wire models with a choice of prime power options, 28VDC and 115VAC. ICG also provides a bulkhead-mounted magnetic stripe reader that can be connected to the cordless handset circuit for credit card calling.

The new cordless phone systems operate with all models of ICG cabin CTUs and ICG Iridium systems, and existing installations can be easily field upgraded with the new phones. The new DECT model replaces the very successful ICG 2.4GHZ cordless system, which is being discontinued.