Satellite Smartphone TerreStar GENUS Available for Consumers, Priced at $1,150

Even though it has filed for bankruptcy in mid-October with liabilities of about $1.6 billion, TerreStar has just announced that its satellite smartphone Genus is now available for consumers for no less than $1,150.

Launched through business channels in September and retailed by AT&T for just $800, the device is now offered to any person who wishes to take advantage of the phone's satellite services and affords to pay a four figure sum for it.

The manufacturer claims that TerreStar GENUS is the world's first integrated cellular-satellite smartphone.

“The GENUS smartphone is ideal for adventure-seekers, skiers, boaters, hikers and anyone who lives on the edge, but still wants to stay connected,” said Jeffrey W. Epstein, president and chief executive officer, TerreStar.

“The GENUS provides the ultimate wireless backup capability; helping ensure users are prepared and have access to mobile communications in case of an emergency, disaster, or even an unforeseen weather condition, despite location or cellular network signal strength,” added Epstein.

GENUS runs on the Windows Mobile 6.5 platform and features a resistive touchscreen, as well as full QWERTY keyboard.

Other key features of the device include: 2-megapixel camera with camcorder, 100 MB internal memory, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, USB and GPS connectivity.

Currently, the GENUS is offered by mobile communications provider TerreStar and connects to the AT&T cellular network for primary ground-based wireless connectivity.

The device gains satellite access connectivity through TerreStar-1, the world's largest commercial communications satellite.

Users with a line of sight to the southern sky can gain access to expanded voice and data roaming coverage in the United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and in territorial waters.

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.