AT&T Finally Launches TerreStar Genus Satellite Phone

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Categories: AT&T, Enterprise, Windows Phone

By: Simon Sage, IntoMobile
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 at 9:49 AM

TerreStar has been working on a dual-mode satellite/GSM phone for at least the last two years, and today it’s finally available on AT&T. The Genus runs Windows Mobile 6.5.3,  has Wi-Fi b/g, GPS, quad-band EDGE, dual-band HSDPA 3G, 2 megapixel camera, and a 2.6″ QVGA resistive touchscreen.
The hardware might seem a little old, but for emergency and remote workers, voice, data, and messaging capabilities through a secondary satellite connection to anywhere with an open view to the southern sky will be enough of a selling point. Even though it looks like the TerreStar Genus breaks the mold of satellite phones with ridiculously huge antennae by having a standard smartphone candybar form factor, AT&T is quick to remind us that an external antenna (which costs extra) may be required in secondary coverage areas.
Considering TerreStar had to launch their own satellite in order to make this handset happen, it’s a pretty interesting development in smartphones. Maybe now that the way has been paved with the Genus, we’ll see some more consumer grade satellite smartphones geared for folks who are simply in remote locations outside of coverage from the big networks. Of course, pricing will be atrocious for the first little while, but once that satellite’s paid off, maybe some affordable consumer-level plans will be offered.
You can find out more about AT&T’s satellite solutions here, or find an enterprise rep to talk about sales here. Pricing is apparently around $799 for the device.

About The Author

Simon Sage

Simon Sage’s education largely surrounded writing, technology and online community, leading him to begin his blogging career at www.BlackBerryCool.com and to quickly discover a vibrant and active community surrounding BlackBerry and mobile technology. In exploring RIM’s platform, he has learned what enterprises are looking for in mobility as well as what makes the innocuous BlackBerry so appealing to them. Recently Simon’s been covering RIM’s gradual move into an already-crowded consumer market, and the impact of burgeoning challengers, such as the iPhone, as well as long-time leaders, like Nokia, on BlackBerry’s advancement. With plenty of content under his belt, Simon will be branching off a bit to see what other smartphone manufacturers are working on while still using BlackBerry as a barometer. At IntoMobile, you can count on his posts being even-handed, well-informed and thought-out.