01:36 pm CDT Oct 09, 2009
(HumanEdgeTech.com) Thuraya continues to roll out the most exciting handheld satellite phones on the market.
Already staking the smallest and cheapest (SO-2510); the most advanced (SG-2520); now the new XT claims to be the toughest.
Rugged IP54
Thuraya XT is the first satellite phone to comply with IP54 - an international standard for ruggedness (IP stands for International Protection Rating). High number is good and 54 indicate that Thuraya XT is dust- and splash protected.
The phone can't be submersed in water but should take rain and snow much better than previous Thuraya models. The shell is a cool-looking and durable black polycarbonate.
Size - not bad
XT weighs 193gr, which makes it comparable with Thuraya SG-2520 but 60gr (2oz) heavier than the world's smallest satellite phone, the Thuraya SO-2510.
XT is comparable in size with Globalstar GSP1700 but 25% lighter than the latest Iridium 9555.
Power - 50% increase
The XT has the best battery life in the industry. 6 hours talk time and 80 hours standby is at least a 50% increase compared to any other satellite phone.
Text, Email and Data - no BT, MAC or PDA
From 9.6kb/s up to 60kb/s download with GmPRS activated, Thuraya data speed is the highest in the handheld category. XT text (SMS) and emails are on par with other phones in the Thuraya family; biggest drawback is perhaps that it does not support Bluetooth.
An (included) data USB cable has to be connected to a laptop for data connection. The USB cable presently only supports Windows XP and Vista but not Mac or PDA's. SG-2520 will therefore remain choice for ultra light expeditions using PDA's for website updates.
HumanEdgeTech recommend ultra-light Solar Blazt Feather 10 to charge all Thuraya phones.
IsatPhone, Genius, Globalstar - overview of competition
Of all satellite phones and modems, truly world wide Iridium still offers the best coverage area. Drawback is heavy weight and slow data speed.
Globalstar offers the second largest coverage area, but the company is still sorting out its problems. New satellites scheduled for launch in 2010 will probably make Globalstar a very interesting alternative in 1-2 years.
Introduced in 2008 with a relatively small coverage area, slow data speed and 80's design; Inmarsat's handheld IsatPhone has failed to impress explorers. The unit is far from Inmarsat's high speed system excellence.
Terrestar successfully launched the largest communication satellite so far this summer and last week its Genius was announced for early 2010.
Terrestar will collaborate with AT&T to provide a mobile network, satellite combo product. Consumers have so far preferred two separate devices - satellite phone and mobile phone - and previous combos have been unsuccessful (Motorola/Iridium, Ericsson/Globalstar) but perhaps timing is better now. Genius will be the most advanced satellite handset on the market, albeit with coverage area limited to North America.
Price
Thuraya is constantly changing call price. Two prepaid plans are offered at present: "Prepay" offers $1.49/min to most destinations and can be used within all Thuraya coverage. For some 80 countries Thuraya offers the "ECO" at $0.75/min. Check www.humanedgetech.com for details.
The new Thuraya XT is $1200 ($1120 at HumanEdgeTech) including wall charger and data cable. Compare to Thuraya SO-2510, at just below $700 the cheapest phone on the market.
Iridium 9505A and 9555 are priced between $1400 and $1600; Globalstar at $1000.
Recommendation
Most high power business folks today carry several mobile phones. The iPhone is cool and fun, the BlackBerry is great for emails, both are crap for simple voice so many carry a small Nokia or Ericsson for regular phone calls.
We are getting a similar situation in satellite communication. Pro explorers carry multiple devices: Thuraya for Himalaya, Kili and Elbrus; Iridium for Antarctica; and Inmarsat high speed modem for Base Camps.
For the seasonal explorer, rental is a smart option to get the best and the latest. Check rental here.
If you want to roam the world and need to buy your first sat phone, go for Iridium. For the high altitude mountaineer planning to have Islamabad and Kathmandu as their main base - Thuraya is the best choice.
HumanEdgeTech is a unique, no-nonsense virtual expedition tech warehouse for satellite communications and edge technology. Created by explorers for explorers, the store is user-friendly with no-hassle pricing, expedition-tested gear, expedition-ready hardware, fast delivery and payments. HumanEdgeTech.com accepts most international credit cards, and delivers worldwide within 72 hours.
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