TerreStar Networks has selected two of Elektrobit Corporation’s IP enabled, integrated satellite-terrestrial smartphone reference designs to complete end-to-end VoIP phone calls over TerreStar (News - Alert)-1.
According to TerreStar, the new satellite will help solve the critical communications and business continuity challenges faced by government, emergency responders, enterprises and rural communities anywhere in the United States and Canada. With a spectrum footprint that covers a population of nearly 330 million, the TerreStar network will operate in two 10-Mhz blocks of contiguous MSS spectrum in the 2 GHz band throughout the United States and Canada.
EB can develop customer specific satellite-terrestrial devices connecting to 2G/3G networks and to S-Band satellite networks with the help of its highly flexible satellite-terrestrial platform. the company builds collaborative product development ecosystems for satellite-terrestrial device development and lifecycle management.
“Meeting this objective validates EB's capabilities to turn mass market mobile technology into enriching devices and experiences for the Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) industry," said Jani Lyrintzis, vice president and general manager, Wireless Solutions, EB. "We congratulate TerreStar Networks (News - Alert) on their successful first IP-based phone call over the satellite network, and are proud to be part of this momentous occasion.”
The satellite-terrestrial smartphone reference design represents the world's first quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA/HSPA device. Providing integrated satellite-terrestrial voice and data capabilities, it runs on the Microsoft (News - Alert) Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. It is the first satellite-terrestrial smartphone with a touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard and the only fully IP-based satellite phone using high-speed packet data.
In November last year, the company introduced its satellite-terrestrial Connectivity Module proof of concept. The Connectivity Module enables end-users to benefit from better IP access capabilities like access to the Internet even while out of coverage area of traditional cellular networks. The design brings data communications with satellite or terrestrial networks. The Connectivity Module uses EB’s satellite-terrestrial smartphone PDA reference design.
Raju Shanbhag is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Raju’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Tim Gray