StarBand, a high-speed, two-way satellite Internet provider, today announced the US nationwide expansion of the StarBand 480 Pro service with Mac, UNIX, Linux, and Windows compatibility. The StarBand 480 Pro provides Internet service with peak download speeds of up to one megabit per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 100 kilobits per second (Kbps). The system supports Mac OS 9 and OS X, and includes a four-port Ethernet router enabling instant networking of multiple computers. “StarBand uses a single satellite dish antenna for receiving and for sending information — no telephone connection is needed,” notes the company. “Plus, the StarBand antenna can accommodate both the Internet and EchoStar’s DISH Network satellite TV programming.” Pricing starts at US$599.99 for the equipment and $139.99 a month for service with a three-year contract.