The main features:

-		Dual-Mode Satellite/GSM Mobile Phone
-		GPS functions
-		Weight: 218 grams
-		Dimensions: 145 x 28 x 53 mm
-		SMS transmissions, supplementary services and voice box
-		Transmission of voice, data and fax
-		Telephone directory for up to 255 names and numbers
-		Mode and received signal strength display

---

Thuraya is the regional geostationary satellite communications system belonging to the Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company in the Middle East and Mediterranean region. Well-known network operators and investors from the Middle East and Mediterranean region are participating in Thuraya. The satellite network, which has been developed and is currently being installed by BOEING, is intended to provide some 2 billion people on three continents with favourably-priced Satellite/GSM telephony services. Thuraya will launch its commercial services in the beginning of 2001.

One highlight is the Dual-Mode Satellite/GSM Mobile Phone that has been developed by Ascom in partnership with Hughes Network Systems and which works both in GSM networks as well as in satellite networks. The real trick: whenever a GSM network is not available, the mobile phone immediately switches over to satellite operation.

The choice for the conception, development and implementation of the compact, user-friendly Dual-Mode Mobile Phone fell in favour of Ascom - primarily because of their excellent know-how base in the field of GSM/Satellite communications but also because of their advanced Man-Machine-Interface (MMI) concept. A special feature of the small, and with a weight of only 218 grams extremely light, Satellite/GSM Mobile Phone for intercontinental travellers, is the integrated Global Positioning System (GPS), that always shows precisely where you are.

Ascom started the series production of the first 120,000 phones.[contents-box/mss-box.htm]