Thuraya launches “world’s toughest hand-held phone”

Details: Category: Devices & Platforms; 25 August 2009; 6874 views

Thuraya Telecommunications Company has launched what it describes as the world’s toughest satellite phone, namely the new Thuraya XT. Thuraya is also using the words most rugged and reliable phone in the market to reinforce the importance it is attaching to the launch.

Developing Telecoms quotes Thuraya’s press release but makes no comment as to its accuracy:

“Designed with the most advanced features to ensure resilience, Thuraya XT is the only satellite phone complying with world telecom IP54/IK03 standards by which it is splash water resistant, dust and shock proof.

“The phone has a glare-resistant display with an internal brightness sensor allowing perfect readability outdoors because of its ability for low reflection in bright environments.

“Contributing to the reliability of the phone, the new Thuraya XT has a battery life with talk-time of up to six hours and standby-time of up to 80 hours which is unprecedented in the mobile satellite industry.”

According to Thuraya’s CEO Yousuf Al Sayed, “Thuraya XT is the world’s most robust satellite phone and it will undoubtedly boost our position in the mobile satellite voice business because it has been specifically designed to meet the critical requirements of vertical customers from the corporate, government, NGO, maritime, oil and gas and military sectors. Its superior features set a new standard in the industry because it is a combination of ruggedness and professionalism.”

In addition to the ruggedness of the phone, the Thuraya XT is “loaded with a professional and user-friendly menu that allows users to quickly access the functions of the phone. The handset’s GmPRS capability allows users to send and receive e-mails as well as browse the web with a laptop or PC from any location.

“The new phone also has an in-built GPS-Navigation feature, permitting users to create and manage Waypoints. These can be used to navigate from a fixed location to various Waypoints, showing the distance and direction to each. The Thuraya XT also provides messaging via SMS, e-mail, fax and Organiser services and supports 12 languages.

“The innovative product is one of the smallest satellite phones, weighing only 193 grams adding to its usability by customers who need a robust and compact phone. To add to its ruggedness, the outside casing of the phone is manufactured using the latest polycarbonates and has attached rubber seals on all plugs for full protection, ensuring the phone’s durability in harsh outdoor environments.”

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