Globalstar L.P. [GSTRF] and Qualcomm Inc. [QCOM], partner the Globalstar system, demonstrated Internet access through the satellite system at the ITU Americas Show in Rio de Janerio last week. A standard laptop computer was connected to a Qualcomm phone that operates on three standards — AMPS (North and South American analog), CDMA (digital cellular) and Globalstar’s system.

Globalstar explained that e-mail and other data traffic were transmitted and received via the Qualcomm phone, up to the Globalstar system and across the Internet at speeds up to 9.6 kilobits per second – a modest rate compared with the capability of a wide open, dedicated transponder, but reasonable for a system designed mainly for voice service.

Globalstar said it “expects to add packetized data services to its existing voice service on a commercial basis this summer and will add other data services across its network during the second half of 2000.” Its service is already available in 10 Latin American countries, the company said.