Sure, a satellite-only handset can cover you virtually regardless of where you happen to be on the globe. But what's the fun in paying those multi-dollar per minute airtime charges for those times when beaming your voice to space and back might be a little, shall we say, overkill? Asia Pacific Satellite Industry feels our pain, prepping their SG-2520 phone with GSM for everyday use plus satellite calling for those days when you find yourself inexplicably trapped on the summit of K2. Hybrid satellite/GSM handsets are nothing new, but what sets the SG-2520 apart is that it's doing its best to front like your average trendy, feature-rich candybar: besides voice calling, your hard-earned cash is going to get you a color display, GPS, Bluetooth, a music player, 1.3-megapixel camera, all crammed into a relatively svelte 19mm of thickness. Hip or not, folks are going to know
exactly what you're up to when that monster of a sat antenna is at full mast.
[Via
Mobile Magazine]
posted Aug 23rd 2006 5:58PM
So will you end up with two seperate phone numbers (one for the sat, one for whatever GSM mobile you might be packing)? And do they have prepaid sat minutes available anywhere?
to Donald: Thuraya has GSM roaming agreements with many operators around the world, so you won't have to change SIM-card (thus you number) unless you don't like paying higher charges for outgoing calls in roaming (incoming are just 25 cents per minute). Prepaid plans (and minutes) for Thuraya are widely available, email me if you need one :)
Cool...the GPS seems particularly fitting for a device like this.
wonder if that BIG antenna can be removed?? haha
this phone looks pretty sweet
Okay I want one. I'm ready to retire my Hughes 7101.