What's claimed to be the world's first reference design for a combined satellite/terrestrial wireless handset was rolled out by Elektrobit Corp. (EB, Oulunsalo, Finland) this week at the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) Wireless Conference (April 1-3, 2008, Las Vegas, Nev.). The satellite-terrestrial communications handset was developed by EB in cooperation with TerreStar Corp. (Reston, Va.), which aims to be the first mobile-network operator to own and operate a 4G integrated mobile satellite and terrestrial communications network throughout North America. The satellite-terrestrial communications handset has both a touch-screen like the iPhone as well as a full Qwerty keyboard operated with the thumbs. For its terrestrial cellular connections the satellite/terrestrial communications handset uses Infineon's chipset, and for the satellite connection it uses technology from Hughes Network Systems.
Text: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207001535
