Elektrobit promises to deliver Windows Mobile-based satellite phone in 2009

We've already seen one hybrid satellite phone shown off far in advance of its promised release date this month, and Elektrobit now looks to be doing things one better, with it debuting an even less satellite phone-looking device that's supposedly coming even sooner. If the company is to be believed, you'll be able to get your hands on the Windows Mobile-based device pictured above sometime in 2009, with it offering everything you'd expect from a standard smartphone with the added benefit of always-on satellite access for times when you stray beyond a cellular signal. That bit of convenience will come from the TerreStar satellite network, which hasn't actually launched yet but, last we heard, was still on track for the end of this year. As for the phone itself, you can apparently expect to get Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, along with HSDPA support, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, a microSD card slot, a 3-megapixel camera, and voice controls, among other standard smartphone features. No word on a price just yet, but Elektrobit says it'll be "cost competitive" with standard cellphones.

[Via The Boy Genius Report]

[Ben @ Apr 21st 2008 12:25PM]

Sounds like a good idea but how much a month is that going to cost?

[John Stracke @ Apr 21st 2008 12:59PM]

I think "cost competitive" means "more expensive, but probably not 10x more expensive". It looks like TerraStar is planning to save satellite costs two ways. First, they've got what they claim will be "the world's largest and most powerful commercial satellite ever deployed"; with that, they can cover all of the US and Canada with one satellite. Second, unlike Iridium, they also have a conventional terrestrial network, so you don't use the satellite unless you actually need it.

The downside, of course, is that they don't have any coverage outside of North America. (Well, and also Hawaii, and some Atlantic islands. Looks like they could cover Cuba if they wanted to.)

Coverage map:
http://www.terrestar.com/misc/cvgMap.html

[Heineken77 @ Apr 21st 2008 12:24PM]

First :)

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 21st 2008 12:26PM]

I'll correct you're spelling mistake:

'Fail'.

There we go.

[Richard Lai @ Apr 21st 2008 12:30PM]

Jeez, grow up!

[Guy @ Apr 21st 2008 2:02PM]

I'll correct your grammar mistake:

'I'll correct your spelling mistake:'

There you go, idiot.

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 21st 2008 2:08PM]

Touche.

But there was no need to call me an idiot.

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 21st 2008 5:28PM]

Actually, you're right. I am an idiot. I've been reading my posts recently and I sometimes come across as a pretentious asshole.

Its taken me a while to realise, but reading some of my comments, I really wish I never made them.

I suppose I can at least be proud of admitting to my faults...

[Heineken77 @ Apr 21st 2008 6:16PM]

First off, sorry for the first comment hehe ... :)
Second off, hehe thanks for the correction Guy hehe :)
Third off, you're not a pretentious asshole Esat hehe :)

Good game guys!

[UKNigel @ Apr 21st 2008 6:48PM]

I think you're getting "hehe :)" confused with a punctuation mark, namely the period.

[Heineken77 @ Apr 21st 2008 6:52PM]

lol.

^

[lao.soup @ Apr 21st 2008 12:25PM]

Awesome, now you can get stranded on a deserted island AND look professional.

[Kyle @ Apr 21st 2008 12:35PM]

I'm in Iraq. I want now.

[John Stracke @ Apr 21st 2008 1:01PM]

It won't work in Iraq; they're for North America only. (At least, that's all the first satellite will cover; I suppose they might be planning more later.)

http://www.terrestar.com/misc/cvgMap.html

[jvh @ Apr 21st 2008 12:42PM]

that is a sexy qwerty board

[Phoenix @ Apr 21st 2008 12:45PM]

It's not a smartphone, it's a PocketPC...

[wixostrix @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:00AM]

uhh...well seeing as its windows mobole 6 standard and non-touch screen. I believe its a smartphone

[Phoenix @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:59PM]

"you can apparently expect to get Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional"

Read the friggin' article before telling me I'm wrong next time

Even if it didn't specify that, you can tell it's a Pocket PC by the "start" button in the upper left of the screen, the start menu is on the left softkey on a smartphone.

[Phoenix @ Apr 22nd 2008 1:00PM]

oh, AND the "home" and "start" keys below the screen.

Trust me, I'm a phone nerd, I wouldn't say something like that without looking closely.

[Drew @ Apr 27th 2008 8:42PM]

Despite the fact its Windows, still pretty

[Tall68 @ Apr 21st 2008 1:41PM]

I will be getting this when they release it

[eoin @ Apr 21st 2008 1:43PM]

Esat Dedezade @ Apr 21st 2008 12:26PM

"I'll correct you're spelling mistake:"

- your

[Esat Dedezade @ Apr 21st 2008 3:29PM]

I get it. I fail.

[Special_K @ Apr 21st 2008 1:55PM]

I don't really know who the target market is for this thing. Serious satellite phones aren't used very often in the States, because the conventional mobile network is more than sufficient. This phone seems to use satellite networks as a means to 'plug the holes' in the network, which is semi-reasonable, but what kind of businessperson is travelling in areas where there is zero reception. Further, what kind of business would pay the exorbitant fees for the sat phone calls? Why not just wait for 20 mins until you get into an area with coverage?

Now, if this network existed in the Gulf, it'd be a hot ticket item. Emir gets out of his mansion in downtown Oman, gets in his Rolls Royce, and starts a call that will continue, uninterrupted, until he reaches his camel ranch in Aqtab Oasis, in the middle of the Empty Quarter. Hell, this thing seems built for the Gulf. Expand the network, and ship me 100 of these device; I'll sell all of them in an hour!

[Special_K @ Apr 21st 2008 1:56PM]

and by "downtown Oman", I meant "downtown Muscat, Oman"

[Anthony @ Apr 21st 2008 2:37PM]

Too bad this can't be combined w/ another general cell network & only sat. calls when needed.

I travel a bit & sometimes (like the islands in Washington) have spotty coverage. Never been a big deal- BUT- I also ride my bike every day into an area that doesn't have coverage so if I were to have an accident a backup would be nice.

[John Stracke @ Apr 21st 2008 2:40PM]

Let's see. FEMA. Oil companies. Search-and-rescue operations. Truckers. Amateur pilots.

Even a lot of wilderness sports would benefit. It depends on what price they manage to deliver: if it's 10% more than regular cellular, then anybody who, say, goes hiking regularly will consider it. If it's twice the price, then guides will carry them, and pass the price along to their customers, billing it as a safety measure. If it's ten times the price, only the people taking hardcore risks will get it (and they'll probably rent it).

[John Stracke @ Apr 21st 2008 2:43PM]

@Anthony: "Too bad this can't be combined w/ another general cell network & only sat. calls when needed." -- That's what this is. See the bit about HSDPA support?

[Special_K @ Apr 21st 2008 3:18PM]

Yes, but this is aimed squarely at the consumer market; FEMA don't need no stinkin' Windows Mobile. The calls will be crazy expensive (yes, 10x the price of a cell call) and quality will be shite (ever seen CNN coverage from Mogadishu?). Remember that satellite networks already exist in the US. This one is new in the sense that it allows you to communicate w/o an antenna (this is a boost, if you've seen satellite phone antennas, the smallest is the size of a lipstick tube) and across both terrestrial and sat. networks. FEMA, oil companies, et. al. use dedicated sat. phones and dedicated mobiles, they don't care about the antenna. They're the only people using sat. phones without care for cost, and they don't need convergence.

[Anthony @ Apr 21st 2008 3:32PM]

@John Stracke - I figure "support" means they're an MVNO using AT&T or some such for "terrestrial" calls not that I can keep getting my AT&T bill (well, someone in my company does) & I just get a bill if I use the sat. functions.

[eurobloke @ Apr 21st 2008 2:23PM]

I think this would be great for reporters, like those on the Beeb (certainly once global coverage). Able to write a story in quick as a jiffy, with out the need of a giant sat phone and a computer.

[lumbre @ Apr 21st 2008 2:27PM]

Nice phone, but will it blend?

[JOSE @ Apr 21st 2008 2:49PM]

for the low low price of your arm and leg....

[goodstuff @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:22AM]

Well can't say it doesnt look good. Probably going for the Blackberry market