Iridium, within weeks of a direct-to-smartphone deal, seeks to lower expectations

PARIS — Mobile satellite services provider Iridium Communications still expects to sign a satellite-to-smartphone service agreement with its unidentified partner within three weeks but might not publicize the deal when it is concluded, Chief Financial Officer Thomas J. Fitzpatrick said.

“We have a development agreement with a partner and expect a service agreement later this year,” Fitzpatrick said during a Dec. 5 investor conference organized by Raymond James. “That doesn’t mean we expect necessarily to make an announcement, but we expect to have a service agreement.”