No Mo' Antenna on Elektrobit Sat Phones

By Editor Wireless and Mobile News on September 12, 2008 5:59 PM

Elektrobit demoed at CTIA Wireless IT and Entertainment, web browsing and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling - on the industry's first-ever dual-mode satellite-terrestrial HSPA smartphone reference design.
The Windows Mobile phone connects to Wi-Fi, AT&T's 3G network or a satellite network when it has to.The phone provides connectivity indoors, outdoor and any where there is a satelite connection.

By demonstrating voice/data applications on its reference platform, EB is ensuring that original equipment manufacturers/original device manufacturers (OEMs/ODMs) can more rapidly and cost-effectively provide next-generation wireless technologies that deliver today's most critical and exciting end-user features.

The key attributes of the desgins include.

The world's first quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA/HSPA smartphone with integrated all-IP satellite-terrestrial voice and data capabilities;
The first satellite-terrestrial smartphone with no external antenna; making for an ultra sleek, modernized form factor design;
The only fully IP-based satellite phone using high-speed packet data;
The first satellite-terrestrial smartphone with a touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard;
The first satellite-terrestrial smartphone based on Windows Mobile operating system, with planned service offerings, including: SMS, MMS, IM, Email, Push to Talk and Location Based Services (LBS).
They also showed a modem that does all that for a notebook computer too.

'Earlier this year, we unveiled our initial prototype of the satellite-terrestrial reference design platform - from a design aspect, and now we are demonstrating the critical voice/data capabilities that will transform the design into a 'working' success,' said Jani Lyrintzis, director, EB Wireless Solutions. 'We continue to deliver on our promise to bring innovative devices to market that capitalize on our industry expertise, both as a pioneer in the field - having contributed nearly 100 commercially successful mobile device portfolios during the past 20 years and as a provider of wireless solutions that best respond to end-user demands to enhance the mobile experience.'

Features of the EB reference designs will include:

Windows Mobile Professional operating system
End-user memory: 100 MB
Compact form factor: 4.7 inch x 2.5 inch x 0.8/0.6 inch / 118.8 mm x 64.8 mm x 19.25/16.25 mm
Lightweight
Integrated Bluetooth, WiFi, USB and GPS connectivity
Mass handset customization possibilities for various vertical industries

Announced in April 2008, the EB satellite-terrestrial reference design platform will be made available to TerreStar Corporation, and enables device manufacturers the opportunity to utilize existing reference design form factors - or - work directly with EB to customize mobile devices based on target market requirements. Initial commercial availability of the reference design is planned for 1H 2009.