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ORBCOMM vs Sea Machines

ORBCOMM logo

ORBCOMM

Software

IoT solutions for maritime asset tracking

From
$25/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sea Machines logo

Sea Machines

Software

Autonomous vessel control systems

From
$50000/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: ORBCOMM satellite latency of approximately 600 milliseconds limits real-time applications; Sea Machines requires hardware fitted to the vessel; the autonomy systems are retrofits or new build installations rather than a software purchase
  • They diverge on capability: ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Sea Machines covers Autonomous control.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ORBCOMM and Sea Machines actually diverge.

Attributes where ORBCOMM and Sea Machines differ
AttributeORBCOMMSea Machines
Starting price$25/month$50000/one-time
Pricing modelsubscriptionone-time
PlatformsSatellite, WebEmbedded, Web, Mobile
Founded19952015

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ORBCOMM

  • Satellite tracking
  • Container monitoring
  • Cold chain monitoring
  • Fleet telematics
  • TMS systems
  • ERP platforms
  • Warehouse management
  • Api support

Only in Sea Machines

  • Autonomous control
  • Remote operation
  • Collision avoidance
  • Pattern following
  • Vessel systems
  • Communication networks
  • Shore-based control
  • Embedded support

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Mobile support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ORBCOMM

No use cases recorded yet. See the ORBCOMM review.

Sea Machines

  • Intelligent voyage and transit autonomy for workboatsnot ORBCOMM
  • Pattern autonomy for survey and repetitive route worknot ORBCOMM
  • Collision avoidance using the AI-ris computer vision sensornot ORBCOMM
  • Remote command and control of vessels, including in GPS denied environmentsnot ORBCOMM
  • Fleet management and telemetry through Fleetviewer and the SMLINK APIsnot ORBCOMM

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ORBCOMM

  • Satellite latency of approximately 600 milliseconds limits real-time applications
  • Higher cost per message compared to terrestrial cellular IoT solutions
  • Coverage remains near-global rather than fully global in all remote regions

Sea Machines

  • Requires hardware fitted to the vessel; the autonomy systems are retrofits or new build installations rather than a software purchase
  • Targeted at vessels from 10 to 300 ft, so it does not address the largest commercial tonnage
  • Pricing is not published and is arranged directly with the vendor
  • The SM300-NG is the class-approved unit, so the cheaper SM300-SP does not carry the same approval

Pricing, plan by plan

ORBCOMM

$25/month
  • Fleet Manager$99/month
    • Real-time tracking
    • Geofencing
    • Reporting

Sea Machines

$50000/one-time
  • SM300$75000/one-time
    • Autonomous control
    • Collision avoidance
    • Remote operation

Which should you pick?

Choose ORBCOMM if

  • You need satellite tracking.
  • You work on Satellite, Web.
  • You also want container monitoring.
ORBCOMM review

Choose Sea Machines if

  • You need autonomous control.
  • You work on Embedded, Web, Mobile.
  • You also want remote operation.
Sea Machines review

Questions people ask

Is ORBCOMM or Sea Machines better?
Neither clearly leads. ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and Sea Machines at $50000/one-time, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ORBCOMM or Sea Machines?
ORBCOMM starts at $25/month and Sea Machines at $50000/one-time.
Does ORBCOMM or Sea Machines run on more platforms?
ORBCOMM runs on Satellite, Web. Sea Machines runs on Embedded, Web, Mobile.
What can ORBCOMM do that Sea Machines cannot?
ORBCOMM covers Satellite tracking, Container monitoring, Cold chain monitoring, Fleet telematics. Sea Machines covers Autonomous control, Remote operation, Collision avoidance, Pattern following. Both handle Web support, Mobile support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ORBCOMM: What is ORBCOMM's satellite coverage?

ORBCOMM's OGx service provides nearly global coverage across over 160 countries using a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites for two-way messaging and IoT data services.

Source
ORBCOMM: How does satellite IoT compare to cellular connectivity?

ORBCOMM satellite offers immunity from cellular blind spots, network outages, congestion, and weather-related disruptions. However, satellite connectivity introduces approximately 600 milliseconds of round-trip latency.

Source
ORBCOMM: What can ORBCOMM monitor in containers?

ORBCOMM's CT 1010 device provides sensor-based monitoring for container fire detection, unauthorized access alerts, damage detection, and asset visibility, with real-time satellite-based tracking.

Source
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