SnapperTalk

Inmarsat has brought out a new handheld satphone aimed to compete with the popular Thuraya models.
The Isatphone is a dual-mode satellite/GSM phone also capable of data use at 2400bps (satellite) and 9600bps (GSM). With these specs I don’t see it comparing that favourably to the Thurayas, especially the newer models such as the SG-2520, but it’s always good to have more competition and choice in this already narrow market.

Isatphone
Isatphone handset details
Isatphone brochure [PDF]
Isatphone coverage map [PDF]

According to this press release the new and catchily-named Thuraya SO-2510 satphone (at left) is now shipping. They’ve dubbed it “the world’s smallest and lightest satellite phone ever made”, although Globalstar have just come out with a pretty small one - the equally memorable GSP 7100.

Either way it looks pretty nice and can be found at retailers like GMPCS for around $800-$900. Probably more interesting is the Thuraya SG-2520 (at right) which should also be coming out sometime soon.

Thuraya have released more details including pictures of their next-generation handsets, which they say will be available in October 2006. The SG-2520 is clearly the most appealing handset for photographers, given its data abilities.

The SO-2510 handset (left) is designed to be the smallest handset available yet - weighing in at just 150g and measuring 118 x 53 x 18.8 mm. It is satellite-only (no GSM) and is said to support GPRS. This is interesting because it implies Thuraya will begin offering GPRS type functionality over its satellite link - and therefore pricing based on the amount of data transferred, rather than per-minute pricing as now.

The SG-2520 “smartphone” handset (right) is designed with an advanced feature-set in mind. It has a 1.9 inch 262,000-pixel colour screen, Tri-Band GSM functionality for global coverage, GPRS data abilities on both satellite and GSM, 1.3 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom, built-in advanced SMS, MMS and Email applications, SD memory card slot, GPS navigation capabilities, and Bluetooth, Infrared (IR), and USB data connectivity.

Both models have user-interfaces in 10 languages including Arabic, English, Farsi, French, German, Hindi, Spanish, Russian, Urdu and Turkish.

The specifications of the SG-2520 give an idea of what sort of data speeds one may be able to get with the new handset:

GPRS capabilities - Satellite mode:
Downstream: up to 60 Kbps*
Upstream: up to 15 Kbps*

GPRS capabilities - GSM mode:
Downstream: up to 85.6 Kbps*
Upstream: up to 42.8 Kbps*

* Depends on the operator network configuration and radio access technology used.

Looks good to me…

Google has a very useful service for those of you in the field on low-bandwidth connections. Primarily designed for browsing websites on cellphones, it will also be of great use for those using laptops but with a very slow connection - e.g. standard GSM data connections and satphones. Even those using relatively fast BGANs will find it of use because the data transferred will be a lot less - thus saving on your satphone bill.
The ultra-minimalist Google site acts as a proxy that strips out all the fancy stuff and reduces the chosen website to either pure text, or text & images. Give it a try - you’ll find it here or click on the image above. Or to see how this site looks in pure text form - click here

Thuraya has announced the next-generation of handheld satphones that it says will become available in early 2006.
Here’s a few excerpts from the full press release about the new cellphone-sized handsets:

“The sleek and stylish satellite phone combines satellite, GSM and GPS, with built-in GPRS, MMS and JAVA features. The GPRS feature allows an always-on access to internet. Users will be able to download and upload information using Thuraya’s satellite network anywhere in the coverage area. Similarly, the GPRS capabilities can also be enjoyed on the GSM mode.”

“Additionally, the new satellite phone has a tri-band GSM system that allows it to operate on different GSM networks (900, 1800 and 1900 MHz) and it also has many high-end GSM features such as a built-in camera, video, a high resolution colour screen and a multi-language support.”

“The new phone comes in three versions: a satellite-only version designed for those requiring mobile connectivity in areas beyond terrestrial networks, and a Satellite/GSM version that is geared towards existing GSM users requiring mobile connectivity and roaming in areas beyond terrestrial networks. Both come with superior GPS navigational features that allow users to find locations and reach destinations safely and quickly. The third version is a satellite modem that is designed for integration and use with other devices.”

They haven’t released any pictures that I could find, except a brief glimpse in this advert on their website and Thuraya CEO Yousuf Al Sayed describes them in this video.

If you’ve ever wondered exactly what it is up in space that you are pointing your satphone to - Wired has a good article all about the new Inmarsat-4 satellites that will provide the next-generation of BGAN coverage for satphone users.

Since the switch over to the new Inmarsat-4 F-1 Satellite BGAN satphones can now be used all the way down to South Africa which is good news. But the switch has also left a gaping coverage hole over parts of West Africa (plus northern England and Portugal) that will only be filled once the Inmarsat-4 F-2 satellite becomes operational over the Americas sometime in 2005/2006. Until that happens, it seems that you will not be able to use BGANs in these West African countries:

Western Sahara - Mauritania - Senegal - Mali - Guinea - Gambia - Guinea-Bissau - Sierra Leone - Liberia

U.S. satphone outlet GMPCS has published a pdf flyer comparing some of the different models of new BGAN satphones expected later this year. In it, they reveal their approximate pricing (and at this stage it is likely just that) of the different models, which are all (expectedly) a fair bit more expensive than the current regional-BGAN satphone… but then they do a whole lot more, and much faster.

AddValue Wideye Sabre: Approx. Price: $1,795
Nera WorldPro 1000: Approx. Price: $2,550
Hughes HNS-9201: Approx. Price: $3,550

Hughes Original R-BGAN: Approx. Price: $499

I wrote previously about the next generation of BGAN satphones, and now Nera has announced the availability of their unit - the Nera WorldPro 1000 - and it looks like a good one with detachable antenna, detachable cellphone-style handset for voice calls, and small size and weight.

The final date for switching over R-BGAN satphones to use the new I-4 satellite has been brought forward. This means that you have just one week from July 9th -16th 2005 to upgrade the RBGAN software on your unit and change the settings. Instructions are here and the new software/firmware upgrade package is here.

! Warning: Do not upgrade your unit before July 9 !

The date for the start of Regional BGAN transition to the Inmarsat-4 (I-4) satellite has been set for Saturday, July 9, 2005. What does this mean for end-users?

There will be a much greater coverage area including almost all of Africa (not just above the equator as now) and most of Asia too. It also means that some users may have to upgrade the software in their R-BGAN terminals in order to continue using the service.
Note the warning - “Do not complete the upgrade before the specified date otherwise you will lose service”.

Extended coverage map
Extended coverage map - more detailed [PDF, 429kb]
Instructions on how to make the transition and upgrade terminals

Inmarsat is currently conducting in-orbit tests of its recently-launched “Inmarsat-4 F1 satellite” located above the Indian Ocean (see a flash video of the launch). The Inmarsat-4 satellites herald in a new era of advanced satellite communications, with new satphone units and service availability expected in late 2005.

The new units will have capabilities far beyond today’s current offerings and would seem to combine the advantages (such as voice capability) of today’s GAN units such as the Thrane & Thrane M4, with those of R-BGANs, and offer speeds up to 432 kbps - 3 times that of existing R-BGANs.

The satellites themselves offer advanced features such as:

• IP packet-switched data services:

Up to 432 kbps data speeds
Background class - with variable data rates depending on demand
Streaming class - with guaranteed data rates

• Circuit-switched services:

Basic telephony (4kbit/s toll quality)
Data (64kbit/s ISDN)
Multimedia (64kbit/s, H.324/m)
Supplementary services (e.g. call forwarding)
Short Messaging Services (SMS)
Voicemail
Pre-pay

Satphone retailer GMPCS has lots of information on the new satphone hardware - with units being designed by Hughes, Thrane & Thrane, Addvalue and Nera. The satphones look well-designed and offer (depending on model) Ethernet, USB, 802.11 WiFi, ISDN and Bluetooth interfaces, SIM card security, data and voice capability including ISDN voice and data, and data speeds up to 432 kbps. Capabilities - and detailed specs via PDF downloads - for the new satphones are here:

Hughes HNS 9201 BGAN Satellite IP Modem Unit
Addvalue Wideye Sabre I Satellite Modem
Thrane & Thrane Explorer™ 500
Nera WorldPro 1000

Coverage will be provided by two satellites - the F1 over the Indian Ocean covering Europe, Africa and the Middle-East, and the F2 providing coverage of the Americas. Coverage in the Americas is due to commence in Q1 2006 after the launch of the second satellite. Details can be seen on this coverage map.

NOTE TO EXISTING SATPHONE USERS: The F-1 satellite goes live on May 28 2005 - This will entail a brief service outage in the IOR across all Inmarsat services (excluding RBGAN) and all Land Earth Stations of between 30 minutes and 2 hours starting at 20:00 GMT, after which service should seamlessly and automatically be restored.

I’ve been hearing vague rumours about a new BGAN satphone in the pipeline that supposedly would have 384kbps bandwidth… Other than that I’ve no information, so if anyone knows anything about this, please let me know. I’m hoping it might have some sort of built-in Voice-over-IP (VOIP) functionality, to counter the current unit’s lack of voice capability, but that’s just guessing.