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Spot Global Phone review: a satellite phone for the masses
Finally, a phone made in the year 2013 that Zack Morris can approve of. All kidding aside, Spot's aptly titled Global Phone isn't the most -- shall we say, svelte -- of handsets, but it's capable of communicating in places that your iPhone could only dream of. Spot is actually a subsidiary of satellite communications giant Globalstar, who is no stranger to providing satellite-based service to argonauts the world over. The Global Phone is one of the company's first consumer-facing phones, taking the intrigue and mystery out of procuring one of those fancy sat phones -- you know, the ones that can seemingly only be acquired by James Bond's nemeses. The target market for this handset is obvious: if you're an avid hiker, explorer, boater or adventurer, there's a high likelihood that you'll end up in a locale where traditional cell networks provide no coverage. In fact, it's shockingly easy to find dead zones these days -- just head to your nearest national park and stroll up a marked trail for a bit. At $499 for the device itself and month-to-month plans starting at $25, it's actually a reasonably priced addition to one's off-the-grid arsenal. (Have you seen the prices on subzero sleeping bags these days?) But, is it a worthwhile addition? I recently traversed 1,600 miles of mostly desolate territory in the US Southwest in order to find out, and the answer lies just after the break.%Gallery-190761%
TerreStar Genus now available to anyone who wants one for just $1,150
Just how much is the promise of anywhere, anytime cellphone reception worth to you? If you answered "one thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars," well... your time has finally come. After initially launching through business channels alone for $800, TerreStar's unique GSM / HSPA Windows Mobile 6.5 smartphone for AT&T with satellite connectivity is now available to consumers from all walks of life, as long as you've got $1,149.99 lying around. The Genus features Bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, a 2 megapixel camera, and pretty much every other amenity you'd expect form a WinMo 6.5 smartphone with circa-2008 hardware specs, with the obvious exception that it can be used anywhere you can see TerreStar's satellite pretty much anywhere in North America. Of course, we'd be a little hesitant about buying a four-figure phone that operates on a bankrupt service, but if you need coverage in the boondocks, your options are pretty limited. Follow the break for TerreStar's demo video and full press release.
TerreStar teetering on bankruptcy?
Okay, look, guys -- we know putting a satellite into space is a pricey endeavor -- just ask Sirius XM -- but you literally just launched your first commercial device, the Genus, and we don't think that "launch a device then immediately declare bankruptcy" is a particularly sound business model. They're not there yet, but sure enough, the WSJ is claiming that newly-minted satphone operator TerreStar could be just days away from filing for Chapter 11 as it bears the brunt of around $1 billion in debt, possibly in the form of a well-structured and prearranged bankruptcy on the heels of discussions with the company's creditors. Seeing how restructuring does seem like the most likely scenario here, we wouldn't necessarily let this scare anyone off from buying a Genus -- but at $799, we doubt many of you were planning on running out this week and picking it up anyway. Echoes of Iridium, anyone?
TerreStar Genus satphone gets beamed into an FCC lab
That projected Q1 2010 availability window for AT&T's first dual-mode satphone (and first satphone, period, for that matter) is looking pretty dang obtainable now that Elektrobit -- the device's manufacturer -- has secured FCC approval. As you can tell from the laboratory mugshot here, TerreStar's Genus is a pretty unassuming-looking Windows Mobile smartphone, which is pretty amazing when you consider that it'll more or less guarantee you coverage anywhere in the most ridiculously remote regions of North America and surrounding waters. Test documentation confirms that it'll be ready with US HSPA out of the gate, so if you can hold out for a month or two and stomach some likely hardcore plans and per-minute / per-megabyte charges, get ready to impress your co-pilot in the midst of that next offshore race.
Iridium to merge with GHL, get back into sat phone game
Aside from pushing out around one phone per year (at best), Iridium Satellite really hasn't had a major impact on the market over the past ten years. 'Course, that's probably because it's hard to have much impact after seeking bankruptcy protection in 1999, but we digress. Starting tomorrow, new life will be breathed into Iridium thanks to a merger with publicly traded GHL Acquisition. If all goes to plan, the merger will add over $200 million to the company's bank account, enabling it to pay down debt and develop a next-generation network of satellites to be launched in 2014. Furthermore, $160 million will be raised by issuing another 16 million shares at $10 a pop, and a new label (Iridium Communications) will be thrown on for good measure. Only time will tell if the world really is ready to adopt satellite phones en masse, but if TerraStar's latest deal is any indication, we'd say chances are good halfway decent.
TerreStar successfully completes first call on new satellite
Remember that giant satellite TerreStar launched a few weeks ago, TerreStar-1? It's now up and running, which means we're that much closer to tiny smartphones that blur the boundary between "satellite phone" and "sexy" -- something that we can't really say has ever even come close to happening before. In addition to completing its first call on the all-IP network provided by TerreStar-1, the company has notified the FCC and Industry Canada that it's now in compliance with the final milestones required for certification, so there's a fighting chance these guys could meet their goal of launching commercially this year. James Bond, your cellphone awaits.
TerreStar launches ginormous satellite in preparation for service
If you want data service on your phone positively, absolutely anywhere you happen to be in the US or Canada, this one's for you: TerreStar just successfully launched its aptly-named TerreStar-1 satellite, which just happens to be the largest commercial satellite ever deployed. This dovetails perfectly with news that the upstart satphone provider is partnering with AT&T to offer service later this year, presumably with a variant of that sweet little Elektrobit WinMo piece we had a chance to check out a few months back. Cost could be a concern, but it should be cheaper than the problem-plagued Iridium back when it launched -- and hybrid HSPA capability is a major win, too.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
AT&T to go live with TerreStar sat phone services this year
We've known that TerreStar Networks and AT&T Mobility were in bed together for quite some time, but evidently the honeymoon phase is finally reaching its logical end. Reportedly, the carrier is gearing up to go live with an extension of service that'll involve satellites and a pinch of luck, giving select customers the ability to roam between its GSM network and TerreStar's satellite network. If all goes to plan (we're not holding our breath, for the record), AT&T will begin to resell satellite service and phones soon after the bird is launched some 22,000 miles above North America on July 1st. Once perched, it'll provide coverage across Canada and the US, including the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. There's no definitive word on pricing, but we're hearing that sat phone service will run around $1 per minute while hybrid handsets will go for around $700 (unsubsidized). Pricey, sure, but how else do you plan to phone home on your next visit to the Pitcairn Islands?
Iridium introduces smallish 9555 satellite phone, shows people holding it
It's just as tough to believe that Iridium is still around and kicking today as it was last February, but regardless of our assumptions, it's not stopping the aforesaid company from doling out an all new satellite phone that's somewhat smaller than most of its competitors. Aside from enabling argonauts to make and receive calls from some of the most remote locales in world (Attu, Alaska, anyone?), the 9555 includes a retractable antenna, illuminated, weather-resistant keypad, SMS support, programmable international codes for automatic dialing, a speakerphone, mini-USB port, up to 4-hours of talk time (30-hours in standby) and a currently undisclosed price tag. Look for this one from Iridium service partners beginning next month, and if you so choose, you can have a look at these very intense professionals enjoying one below.[Via MobileTechNews]%Gallery-35019%
New agreement integrates satellite / cellular technology in mobile chip
SkyTerra's Mobile Satellite Ventures, ICO Global Communications and Qualcomm have jointly announced today a partnership that could have far-reaching implications in the mobile realm. In short, the trio has agreed to "integrate satellite and cellular communication technology in select multi-mode mobile baseband chips," which will essentially enable handsets to have "ubiquitous mobile communications coverage from anywhere in North America, including areas where traditional cellular service is currently unavailable or unreliable." The release proclaims that this hookup will lead to satellite connectivity being in mass-market devices, but only time will tell how long it takes for compatible handsets to get adopted by carriers. Unfortunately, we do know it won't happen prior to 2010, as that's the planned ship date for the newfangled chips. Thanks for the heads-up, guys -- but oh, how the tease hurts us.[Via PhoneScoop]Update: Images provided are of Mobile Satellite Ventures' design concepts. %Gallery-32429%
MSV shows off L-Series satellite phone prototype
On a typical day, anything shown off at CTIA with a "coming in 2010" sticker would cause some serious unrest, but given that we've already found that LTE is eons (or so it feels) away, we're just taking things in stride. The MSV prototype shown above will purportedly become a proud member of the L-Series, and its satellite / cellular hybrid system will enable it to play nice on traditional cell bands as well as snag sat coverage anywhere in North America. Apparently the firm is planning on shooting up a pair of birds in 2009 as well as landing a deal with an undisclosed US carrier, and the 0.6-inch thick unit itself should feature a 480 x 320 multi-touch screen, WiFi and an integrated camera. No word on a price just yet, but feel free to check back in a few years.
Japanese mobiles could make satellite calls to massive dish
When you're already tracking every kid out there to make sure no one gets into too much mischief, you definitely need a way to make a call whilst in "mountainous areas or at sea," right? Apparently the Japanese government thinks so, as it's planning on bringing satellite calling to the masses by launching a bird that's 50-meters in diameter in order to enable "ordinary handsets" (you know, the ones without the mile-long antennas) to make satellite calls in times of emergency with just slight modifications. The aforementioned sat would be over twice the size of the 19-meter Kiku No. 8, which currently holds the crown for the largest launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, meaning that the newfangled equipment would fit nicely within the confines of today's increasingly shrinking cellphone and still find signal. Interestingly, the ministry isn't looking to get the service going before 2015, so we just might be looking at mainstream antenna-less iterations by that time anyway.[Via DigitalWorldTokyo, photo courtesy of SatellitePhones]
Hard luck for satellite industry last week
As much as we love to live in our own little bubbles, consuming gobs of bandwidth and never giving back, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes -- as evidenced by that recent internet hacking attempt that was rebuffed so brilliantly. That's why it pains us to hear of recent satellite failures that are not only damaging to the companies involved to the tune of millions of dollars, but could also even impact us in the long run. Totally unacceptable. Sea Launch got the travesties started with a dramatic explosion at its ocean launch platform and the complete disintegration of the Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket that was carrying a Boeing-built communications satellite designed to bring broadband to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Asia. Not only does this put the kibosh on those plans, but could also impact DirecTV satellite launches later this year. The other bad news comes from GlobalStar, whose recent SEC filing reveals problems with S-band antennas across its satellite fleet, possibly due to irradiation in orbit. The upshot of this is that even with eight spare satellites being launched in 2007, GlobalStar's 2-way phone coverage is in serious jeopardy, with call quality and times already on the outs, and no-coverage patches soon to emerge. There's no fix in sight yet, so GlobalStar might have to accelerate plans to launch its next-gen wave of satellites, which could seriously impact the bottom line. So peep the Sea Launch explosion video after the break, mourn the hardship it implies for the satellite industry, and then go back to your own little "crossing the street while listening to your iPod" world.[Via Techdirt]Read - Sea Launch explosionRead - GlobalStar service problems
Globalstar GSP-1700 satphone also loaded with EV-DO
Generally, when Engadget editors hit the road, we make do with our ordinary GSM handsets for voice calls, but that strategy doesn't always work when we're reporting from, say, the rural fringes of Kazakhstan. Today, satellite phone manufacturer Globalstar just announced the GSP-1700, the company's smallest satphone to date, weighing just 7.1 oz (203 g) and 43 percent smaller by volume. In addition, this Qualcomm handset packs an EV-DO modem, so you can get high-speed data access from "virtually anywhere you can see sky," according to the company's website. The GSP-1700 also stays loaded for four hours of talk time and 36 hours of standby time on a single charge. We're not sure on the price of this handset, but given that its predecessor, the GSP-1600 goes for $750 (without a service plan), it's a safe bet that this one will go for at least that much when it's released "in the coming months."
