Satellite Technology Feature Article
October 02, 2009
TerreStar Networks Forms Partnership with AT&T
By Anil Sharma, TMCnet Contributor
TerreStar Networks Inc. (TerreStar), a majority-owned subsidiary of TerreStar Corporation, has reportedly entered into an agreement with AT&T to bring to market the first fully integrated satellite cellular smart phone.
According to TerreStar (News - Alert) officials, the company’s solution will combine AT&T's wireless connectivity with the ability to use an all-IP satellite network as back up throughout the United States. Officials said that using one phone number and one device, users will be able to access voice and data services in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and offshore coastal waters over either the AT&T (News - Alert) cellular network, or the TerreStar satellite network.
"TerreStar is pleased to announce AT&T as a distribution channel,” said Jeffrey Epstein, president, TerreStar Networks (News - Alert), in a statement.
Epstein said that TerreStar remains focused on offering an integrated satellite and terrestrial communications solution to enable true ubiquity and reliability virtually anywhere in the United States to help solve the critical communications and business continuity challenges faced by government, emergency responders, enterprises and rural communities.
TerreStar Networks plans to offer a secure and resilient satellite terrestrial mobile broadband network that will provide voice, data and video services dedicated to helping solve the critical communication and business continuity challenges faced by government, emergency responders, enterprise businesses and rural communities.
The company expects to offer next generation mobile communications through a network of partners and service providers to users who need "anywhere" coverage throughout the U.S.
Back in July TerreStar had announced the successful completion of an end-to-end phone call over TerreStar-1, the world's largest, most advanced commercial communications satellite.
The call was completed between two of TerreStar's quad-band GSM and tri-band WCDMA/HSPA smart phones with integrated satellite-terrestrial voice and data capabilities. The call not only demonstrates the power of TerreStar-1 and the TerreStar smart phone, but also showcases the flexibility of TerreStar's all-IP core network.
Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Anil’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Amy Tierney
