TerreStar GENUS cellular-satellite smartphone now available for purchase

TerreStar GENUS, which is touted as the world’s first integrated cellular-satellite smartphone is now available for consumers. Offered by mobile communications provider, TerreStar Networks (“TerreStar”), the GENUS ensures today’s active lifestyle consumer, from the extreme outdoor adventurer and action sport enthusiast to the recreational boater, can stay connected even in remote locations or when the cellular network is down.

Specs wise, the TerreStar GENUS comes with Windows Mobile 6.5 OS, WiFi (802.11 b/g), Bluetooth, GPS, 2MP camera (camcorder format (H.263 simple profile); video and audio playback features and digital voice recording), a full QWERTY keyboard, 100MB of onboard storage, media player and more. As for the size, it measures 4.7 x 2.5 x 0.8/0.6 inches and weighs 4.6 oz.

About the size of a deck of cards, the TerreStar GENUS connects to the AT&T cellular network for primary ground-based wireless connectivity, and gains satellite access connectivity through the power of TerreStar-1, the world’s largest commercial communications satellite, which acts as a cell tower in the sky.

The TerreStar GENUS is available today, online at www.terrestar.com/consumer. Qualified AT&T cellular voice and smartphone data rate plans are required, as well as a monthly satellite service feature. Usage of the satellite network for voice, data and messaging is not included in the monthly feature charge and is billed as a per-minute, per-message or per-megabyte roaming charge.