Thuraya GSP-1700: Smallest Satellite Phone in the Market
Now this is a goodly sized Satellite Phone. My main beef about these satellite phones in the past was their really really bunkly frame and side (and of course high service charges bordering on prohibitive). However, this new one from Thuraya looks like a 3rd generation mobile phone.
While the GSP-1700 sports a relatively slim, sexy design and weighs just 7.1 ounces, it has already become second place thanks to a pair of new satellite phones by Thuraya. The firm’s SO-2510 (purely SAT) comes in at just 4.59 ounces, and sports a 4.66- x 2.09- x 0.74-inch enclosure, but still manages to include a 1.5-inch LCD, GPS / satellite services, USB connectivity, and a battery providing 2.4 hours of talk time (plus 40 hours in standby). The slightly larger (albeit GSM-equipped) SG-2520 rocks Tri-band capabilities, a 1.9-inch LCD, 1.3-megapixel camera, 128MB of internal memory, an SD slot, and still manages to hit the scales at just 6 ounces.
Now this is a toy any backpacker or adventure seeker (or jetsetter) must have in their arsenal. Definitely standard National Geographic and Discovery Travel and Adventure gear. Maybe if these phones continue to get smaller and satellite phone calling and services costs get lower then could this spell the end of GSM/CDMA mobile phone technology? Trully mobile on a planetary scale at least. Or will this be just another lukeware Satellite Phone service?
