TerreStar Networks and EB (Elektrobit) demonstrated an integrated satellite-terrestrial smartphone reference design for the upcoming Terrestar mobile satellite service.
TerreStar's forthcoming service will enable users across North America to be connected to TerreStar's network through a "virtual handshake" between the next-generation mobile satellite and a next generation terrestrial network. Launch of TerreStar's satellite is expected later this quarter. Highlights of the satellite-terrestrial reference device include:
- Compact form factor with an internal antenna
- The world's first quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA/HSPA smartphone with integrated all-IP satellite-terrestrial voice and data capabilities;
- The only fully IP-based satellite phone using high-speed packet data;
- The first satellite-terrestrial smartphone with a touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard;
- The first satellite-terrestrial smartphone with planned service offerings, including: SMS, MMS, IM, Email, Push to Talk and Location Based Services (LBS).
