The Mobile Satellite Users Association has awarded Thuraya Telecommunications with the ‘top mobility user experience solution’ title for its X5-Touch satellite smartphone.
The announcement was made during the company’s participation at the Satellite 2019 Conference in Washington DC, US. The X5-Touch is the first satellite phone to run on the Android operating system.
The OS provides users with a multitude of apps on purchase. Additionally, the OS gives developers the freedom to develop and customise apps to meet the needs of their target market. These functionalities enable the ‘bring your own application’ (BYOA) concept allowing customers to download apps of their choice.
The X5-Touch’s 5.2-inch HD touchscreen comes with a rugged Gorilla glass display, front and rear camera, and a battery optimised for remote environments of satellite communication.
Moreover, the X5-Touch’s omnidirectional satellite antenna aids communications in more than 160 countries across Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
The satellite smartphone comes with dual-mode and dual-SIM capabilities, providing the option to switch between satellite and terrestrial networks. The phone has safety, navigation and tracking functions, and an inbuilt SOS button.
Commenting on the X5-Touch’s success, Ali Al Hashemi, Thuraya’s CEO, said: “The award is a testament to the inventive mindset we encourage at every level of our organisation. Our customers rely on dependable communications to do their job and, in many cases, remain safely connected in remote environments. With this award, the X5-Touch continues to reinforce its credentials for the most in-demand among users.”
Commenting on the functionality of the satellite smartphone, Shawkat Ahmed, Thuraya’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Through the design and functionality of the X5-Touch, we set out to create a device that felt as natural and effortless to use as our personal smartphones, but with added ruggedness. Usability is in many ways more important in remote and testing environments than it is elsewhere, and as this award demonstrates, the X5-Touch provides fast, simple and trusted connectivity wherever users venture.”
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