Talk Among the Stars :: Thuraya Skyphone

Thuraya Skyphone

Several tech outlets have been reporting about the imminent release of UAE-based Thuraya’s Skyphone—a universal smartphone/satellite phone hybrid. Apple introduced satellite connectivity hardware in much more run-of-the-mill devices with the iPhone 14 but with only limited one-way messaging for emergencies. The Skyphone promises full integration of traditional terrestrial smartphone communication with two-way satellite messaging and calls. Thuraya has something of a leg up with this device because they own their own network of satellites.

The company is also promising global SIM connectivity in 170 countries through a partnership with over 370 mobile network operators. Satellite coverage will encompass over 150 countries around the world, and Thuraya says when you are out of ground-based network range, the transition to satellite calls and SMS will be seamless. The proprietary phone runs on Android 14 OS, and features a 6.7-inch Gorilla Glass OLED screen and a 50MP front facing camera. It’s integrated satellite antenna appears to add some extra bulk to the device, but not overly so.

Thuraya Skyphone

Ali Al Hashemi, Group Chief Executive Officer of Yahsat (the firm that operates the 5-satellite network the Skyphone uses), said: “The advanced capabilities of the SKYPHONE for multi-continent use, together with a consumer-friendly design, make it a significant disruptor in the smartphone sector. It has the form factor and features of a conventional smartphone but with the added capability of universal satellite connectivity.”

The Skyphone was certainly the inevitable next stop in the evolution of global telephone and SMS communication. As the technology advances, stand-alone satellite-based communication devices, like the Garmin inReach and SPOT X may see their days numbered. Thuraya will almost certainly have to compete against the big boys like Samsung and Apple down the line as well in this space, which should make the technology even more accessible for the average consumer. No word yet on pricing, either for the phone or the roaming satellite service, but Thuraya intends to launch the Skyphone in Q3 of 2024.

thuraya.com

Read more: The Best Remote Communications for Overlanders by Scott Brady

Images: Thuraya

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Stephan Edwards is the Associate Editor of Expedition Portal and Overland Journal. He and his wife, Julie, once bought an old Land Rover sight unseen from strangers on the internet in a country they'd never been to and drove it through half of Africa. After living in Botswana for two years, Stephan now makes camp at the foot of a round mountain in Missoula, Montana. He still drives that Land Rover every day. An anthropologist in his former life and a lover of all things automotive, Stephan is a staunch advocate for public lands and his writing and photography have appeared in Road & Track, The Drive, and Adventure Journal. Contact him at edwards@overlandinternational.com and @venturesomeoverland on Instagram.