Iridium now offers SMS balance check, providing the ability for customers using prepaid airtime to send a balance enquiry via an SMS to 2888 in order to receive their current status for no charge. This feature has been created in response to customers who have asked for a visual way to see their number of minutes and days remaining before their airtime expires as an alternative to the current voice-based balance check system. The voice-based system will continue to be available and both will be offered at no additional charge to allow customers to check their prepaid airtime balance.
To use this new feature, follow these instructions:
1. Compose a blank SMS and send to 2888 (+2888 or 002888 will also work)
2. An SMS response will be sent back to the device from the Iridium system
3. The message will contain the number of remaining talk-time minutes in the account, the number of days until the account expires, and the date and time (GMT) of expiration in English.
The SMS prepaid balance calculation is based on talk-time minutes and will be accurate for the vast majority of subscribers, but not all. For subscribers who place a large amount of calls to other satellite networks, the announced minutes will be higher than actual. For subscribers who place a large number of Iridium-Iridium calls, the SMS number will be lower than actual.
The capability works for customers using prepaid airtime only (not post-paid) and 9555 or 9505A satellite phones, it is available effective immediately.