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Thuraya Touts 'World's Most Robust' Satellite PhoneABU DHABI, Aug 17, 2009 (Khaleej Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Thuraya Telecommunications Company has launched what it claims is the world's toughest satellite phone, the shock-proof and water-resistant Thuraya XT. The satellite handheld is resistant to dust and also offers longer talk time, the company said on Sunday. It has a longer battery life, making it good for use for up to six hours, with standby-time of up to 80 hours. Other products in the market offer four hours of talk time with 42 hours of standby-time, Thuraya said in a statement. The phone has a glare-resistant display with an internal brightness sensor that allows better readability outdoors. "Thuraya XT is the world's most robust satellite phone and it will undoubtedly boost our position in the mobile satellite voice business," Thuraya's Chief Executive Officer Yousuf Al Sayed said in a statement. The handset lets users send and receive e-mails and browse the web with a laptop or PC. It provides messaging via SMS, e-mail, fax and Organiser services and supports 12 languages, the statement said. "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 company said. Weighing 193 grammes, or less than half a pound, the XT is one of the smallest satellite phones. Its outside casing is made of polycarbonates with rubber seals on its plugs for increased durability. The new model is aimed at reinforcing Thuraya's position as the world leader in mobile satellite handheld business. Since it began commercial operations in 2002, the company has sold over 550,000 handhelds. Its market includes military personnel, oil and gas workers, ship crews and news media correspondents. [email protected] To see more of the Khaleej Times, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.khaleejtimes.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Khaleej Times, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |