AT&T's Satellite Smartphone Goes on Sale Next Week, Offering Coverage Where Network Can't

By Clay Dillow Posted 09.22.2010 at 11:25 am 2 Comments

The TerreStar Genus

Tired of that spotty AT&T network coverage? The carrier is offering a satellite backstop to its network, but you’ll have to give up your iPhone for an even pricier option. AT&T has announced that on Tuesday it will begin selling its first satellite phone that works anywhere in the U.S., including in wilderness areas or hundreds of miles offshore. And the TerreStar Genus will only run you $799.

There are some important benefits to the Genus. It could become an important tool for businesses that operate off the beaten path, like mineral mining companies, commercial fishermen, wilderness authorities, and emergency response workers. And it’s not just a phone, but rather a full-blown smartphone that can manage text and data and runs Windows Mobile 6.5. Unlike previous iterations of the mobile satphone, it’s about the size of a Blackberry, has a full alphabetical keyboard, and lacks a massive antenna.

But the privilege of being able to email from the deck of your deep sea fishing vessel comes at a price. The phone requires regular AT&T voice and data service and runs on the normal network when coverage is available. But to access the satellite you’ll shell out an extra $25 per month, plus 65 cents per minute of voice. Data ain’t cheap either, costing $5 per megabyte. At 40 cents each, you’re better off sending a text than an email.

There are a few other potential un-selling points. To access the satellite you need an unobstructed view of the southern sky, and the satellite coverage is only good in the U.S. and surrounding waters, so you won’t be updating Facebook Places from the summit of Kilimanjaro with the Genus.

But it seems the phone is aimed less at the individual and more toward professional customers who need to stay in touch with headquarters even when outside of traditional coverage areas. As such, it will initially go on sale to business customers only on Tuesday. The TerreStar Genus will arrive in retail stores later this year.

[AP]

Previous Article: New Handheld Drug Test Uses Electrodes and Saliva to Sniff Out Cocaine in Five Minutes

Next Article: The Best New Camera Gear From Photokina

2 Comments

Link to this comment

LJSearles

09/22/10 at 2:37 pm

Now, if they could just arrange decent coverage for regular cell phones...

Link to this comment

Aws24689

02/02/12 at 3:19 pm

There is actually full gsm coverage at the summit and throughout most of mount Kilimanjaro so you could use the phone to update your facebook on the peak while roaming on gsm.

Popular Tags

Gadgets

Regular Features

The Grouse | Tech's shortcomings exposed

All Tags All Photos All Videos

Gadgets

+ More Photo Galleries

140 years of Popular Science at your fingertips.

Popular Science+ For iPad

Each issue has been completely reimagined for your iPad. See our amazing new vision for magazines that goes far beyond the printed page

Download Our App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone or Android phone with full articles, images and offline viewing

Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed

April 2013: How It Works

For our annual How It Works issue, we break down everything from the massive Falcon Heavy rocket to a tiny DNA sequencer that connects to a USB port. We also take a look at an ambitious plan for faster-than-light travel and dive into the billion-dollar science of dog food.

Plus the latest Legos, Cadillac's plug-in hybrid, a tractor built for the apocalypse, and more.