Who would want this? Sat phones are so 80s.
Terresterial networks have covered most of the land mass in the US...

there are still places outside of the US that don't have traditionally cell phone service...

Too little too late. Where were you guys 10 years ago? Cell phones today have all of the features this SAT has and much cheaper. The only positive draw is if you plan to go to a exotic country with no cell phones or get lost at sea? The rates will most likely be out of this world and not be able to compete with the cell phone carriers. My cell phone already traveled with me all over the world without any reception problems. So what's NEW?

Sign me up. Just like satellite radio gives me consistent music, sports, and news so too would this phone. I can't get Verizon at my home but that's what we have at work so I'm stuck. I keep waiting for that guy and his team to show up but they're still not there.

Obviously keetai doesn't live in a rural mountainous area or travel much to areas that don't have cell towers.

Satphones are awsoem, fool. too bad it runs windows mobile not android or symbian

The ghosts of Motorola's Iridium past have come back!

We take our RV on trips and I can assure you this would be welcome in areas that you would not imagine. It is not just for mountainous areas or on the water that you find problems. Go to the Big Bend area of Florida and see what you get. Less than 60 miles from the state capital and no cell service by any provider unless you stand on one foot with your head at a 18.5 degree angle on top of your RV. For that matter try just south of Brooksville, FL which is only 40 miles north of Tampa and you will hit dead zones.

If it allows for even moderate checking of e-mail, I am in.

It's a great idea. There is no reason why all mobile devices shouldn't work off of satellites directly instead of going through a tower. Cell companies should forget about spending millions every year on new towers... invest in more satellites that their customers can use directly. A few satellites up in space versus thousands of towers (and counting) taking up more and more of our space on land = Crazy!

Eli,

More satellites would be fine however there is still the line of sight issue. After all, more of our cell phone use is indoors than outside.

This ocean sailor drools at the thought of an affordable sat phone. This one apparently will not work across the whole pond, but obviously will work for coastal cruising, maybe the Bahamas?

GPS, DISH, DirecTV, XM, and Sirius are *so* 80's.

Satphones & Sat Internet service have been behind the scenes so long because of the costs involved. If Terrestar/Elektrobit can keep the costs down, this could open some doors.

Question: Is the Terrestar/Elektrobit satphone planning on running on geosynchro or LEO?

Those of you bagging on Satellite connections in mobile devices are complete knuckleheads.
Having Geosync (to limit Line of sight issues) Satellites will allow poorly covered (or no covered) Cell areas reception. Take some time to look at a coverage map. Also, some areas that are covered are under contract (not owned by your cell provider) and hence are alloted less bandwidth (higer chance of dropped calls). There are still dead zones too.
I still think Cell networks will be needed to help distribute the customer load at peak times (and for US Homeland security purposes).
If you're going to stay in a Major city for your entire life (and not take vacations) staying with cell phones is fine. Otherwise, invest in the new tech, especially if Sirius/XM will start allowing their recievers in mobile hand sets.

There's one thing you guys should think about.
terrestrial cell antennas and networks can be damaged by natural disasters. Satellite telephony can avoid this problem and be critical in natural disaster communications. so.. even if doesnt have a great cover.. you still be able to communicate

this is brilliant for people who do extreme sports like skiing or dune surfing. i always don't get any reception in the mountains!!! and well if u get kidnapped or something. lol. or stranded on a desert island, remote as that possibility is. grins.

Cool i like it that means you get reception everywere

Ummm, coverage everywhere? Hardly. US and Canada. Running an ATC network means you have cellular coverage when available and satellite when cell runs out provided your phone can 'see' the satellite. New package, same technology. Satellites have to see the phone for it to work. Very underwhelming.

i was expecting a sat / cell phone with open souce operating system.. as usual windows suck....

it is great to have cell phone with no limitation to towers any where in the world you go, i think it is stupid to invest millions on towers, why not invest to improve the satellite system.

Ref - Going to satellite completely:

Does anyone know the power usage of transmitters and repeaters on a cellular network? It would be interesting to know how it compares to the cost of a solar powered satellite being launched and the power needed for transmission. REB also has a good point about being inside buildings, not fussed on the look of a satellite dish hanging on the outside of my house if that's what it takes to get a signal with satellite only phones.

This would be great for the Appalachian Trail. One could order pizza and have it delivered to remote road crossings or trail heads. Every well heeled hiker should have one.