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TerreStar's Sat-Cell Genus Smartphone Available from AT&T

Sep 21, 2010, 7:00 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Today AT&T and TerreStar announced the availability of the Genus hybrid satellite-cellular phone to customers in the U.S. The service will provide normal cellular access when users are covered by AT&T's cellular network, and will switch to the satellite network for coverage in remote areas of the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and in territorial coastal waters. The Genus hybrid device runs Windows Mobile 6.5 and offers quad-band GSM/EDGE and dual-band UMTS/HSDPA 3G radios. It has a 2.6-inch touchscreen, QWERTY keyboard, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The handset costs $799, and users will be required to subscribe to standard AT&T voice and data plans, in addition to a satellite access charge. On top of the satellite access charge, users of the Genus will pay by the minute for voice calls, by the message for texts, and by the megabyte for satellite data. The Genus and associated satellite-cellular services will be available to government and business customers first, but AT&T said that it is also working on a consumer variant as well.

source: AT&T

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Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

4Geo

Sep 22, 2010, 2:36 PM

Satellite Smartphone with cell Service

Here's the deal. Go price satellite only phones, especially a Smartphone if you can find one. Then consider your need for cellular service, and the ability to choose to use the Sat Service on a pay-per-use model as a back-up to the nations cellular network, where you life or business depended on a connection to the voice and/or data infrastructure.

Consider you have your cell number, and then a sattelite phone number. Combine them, and now you have one number, which can operate over either.

Finally, this isn't consumer centric, and is for people who travel to areas without service, like national parks, and outside our borders, along our waterways, etc.

Consider the people that were lost and couldn't get help as they were outs...
(continues)

msteven3

Sep 21, 2010, 9:29 AM

Makes no sense

Why on Earth would something like this be a smartphone running WinMo 6.5? That OS s dead and will soon be replaces by WP 7. And besides, the people who want a device with these features are those who are out in the middle of nowhere looking for a signal or those in a disaster area. In situations like that, you aren't looking to check your e-mail and update Facebook, you likely need help. Make the thing a ruggedized phone with basic features and long battery life, and people may bite. But if you absolutely must make it a smartphone, at least have the decency to load a current OS.

I predict that this will be a huge flop, even among its target audience, unless its target audience is high-ranking FEMA officials who want to make jaunts ou...
(continues)

4Geo

Makes no sense to whom?

Here's the deal. Go price satellite only phones. Then consider your need for cellular service, with or without text or data.

Consider you have your cell number, and then a sattelite phone number. Combine them, and now...
(continues)

Otowncell

Sep 21, 2010, 9:04 AM

Basically This is

the bend me over and rape me phone. You are getting charge for every little aspect of the phone including access charges ontop of minutes and pay per text which is all on top of AT&T plan and data package. Thanks but no thanks ill use smoke signals before using this

Azeron

Thanks for inserting your no cents, but obviously you have no need for a satellite phone. There are a few individuals who do, however.

...

flip mode

Sep 21, 2010, 9:32 AM

Vasoline sold seperately

this sounds very expensive, it reminds me of like back in the early 90's where subs of cellular one and ameritech cellular would get charged for people leaving voicemails at one point. at&t never ceases to amaze me with their shenanigans

Azeron

*Groan*

Seriously. They are not granting access to satellites for pennies. Get over it.

bluecoyote

Sep 21, 2010, 11:25 AM

For businesses / FEMA

This isn't meant for consumers. This is meant for businesses that deal with extreme conditions.

maokh

I think this could be a niche hit with some consumers who work outdoors, play outdoors, or live in one of the many rural areas in the united states that has poor to zero terrestrial coverage. The west coast, Alaska, and canada are some good examples....
(continues)

...

ecycled

Sep 21, 2010, 9:36 AM

Sweet!!

The original news on this phone was last summer, that's why the OS is old. A satellite takes a lot longer to get approval for than a tower, and towers don't happen overnight either.

This is progress! Eliminate the towers and go sat only. Eventually a dropped call will never happen, as tunnels are easier to cover than 15 miles radius.

I say, awesome. I'd carry this now.

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