Thuraya has this week announced a new smartphone, the Thuraya X5-Touch. Thuraya might not be a company that many Android users are familiar with as it is a mobile satellite communications company. However, it is this very point that makes this smartphone a little different to the usual smartphone announcements that come through as the Thuraya X5-Touch is a satellite phone running on Android. Which, according to the company, makes the X5-Touch “the first Android satellite phone” as well as “the world’s smartest satellite phone”
With this being a satellite phone it is primarily designed for use by those who might often find themselves outside of typical coverage areas. Therefore, the X5-Touch is capable of entering ‘GSM mode’ and connecting to 2G, 3G, or 4G networks when available and entering a ‘satellite mode’ as and when needed. To add to its connected nature, the X5-Touch is actually capable of having both models activated all the time. Making it an ideal option to staying connected, regardless of where the user is, or how good nearby signals might be. Its connectivity features are not just resigned to reception either with the X5-Touch also supporting various navigation systems, such as GPS, Glonass, and BeiDou. In addition to the more traditional mobile connectivity options like Bluetooth, NFC, and Wi-Fi. It is also a dual-SIM supported smartphone.
Besides the wide-ranging connectivity benefits, Thuraya has only provided a few details on the rest of the specs and features. For example, the X5-Touch is confirmed as having a 5.2-inch full HD display which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. While the rest of the phone is protected through its IP67 dust and water-resistance certification. The company does also state the X5-Touch features “a high-capacity battery” although no specifics on the mAh capacity were provided as part of the announcement. Thuraya also points out the X5-Touch comes with a number of other “advanced features and functionalities” including a dedicated SOS button. Like the limited feature and spec information, the company has yet to provide any firm details on the cost of this Android-powered smartphone, or exact availability other than stating the X5-Touch will become available in the fourth quarter of 2018 through “Thuraya Service Partners.”