Spherics hires new chief executive

Spherics has hired Ze’ev Shaked as chief executive officer and member of the board of directors.

Prior to joining Spherics, Shaked served as chief operating officer of Ilex Oncology Inc. Before Ilex, the executive held a number of research and development management and product development positions at ImmuLogic Pharmaceutical Corp. Berlex Biosciences Inc, Triton Biosciences Inc., Codon Corp. and Chiron Corp.

Shaked also holds a number of patents in biotherapeutic product development, drug product formulation and drug delivery and has been involved in the development of Campath, a treatment for B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Betaseron, disease-modifying therapies available for people diagnosed with MS; and Fludara, a treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

KVH improves broadband speed to Inmarsat service

MIDDLETOWN – KVH recently announced that it was rolling out its new Velocity Acceleration data service, which provides a 300- to 500-percent increase in data speed for Inmarsat Fleet, a marine satellite communications service.

The new service upgrades ISDN and mobile packet-data service rates from 64 kilobits per second to broadband-levels of 200 to 300 Kbp.

“The launch of KVH’s Velocity Acceleration program is the latest step in our efforts to provide reliable, versatile and fastest communications options for our customers,” said Ian Palmer, vice president of satellite sales. “Thanks to its global voice capabilities and versatile, high Internet connections, the Inmarsat Fleet service is a powerful addition to any vessel’s onboard communication resources.”

The announcement came just one day before KVH announced that its antenna could provide digital satellite television services to any automobile.