[Satellite TODAY 11-24-10] TerreStar has initiated the full commercial launch of its Genus dual-network smartphone to all consumers, the company announced Nov. 23.
    The Genus smartphone has been available to the government and enterprise since September and will now be targeted to commercial markets. The smartphone runs on the normal AT&T cellular network as well as the TerreStar satellite backup network.
    The phone will continue to be marketed as TerreStar Networks prepares to enter chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which the company filed for with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan in October after amassing $1.64 billion in liabilities. EchoStar Corp. is providing TerreStar with $75 million of financing to help it operate while in bankruptcy. Cellular technology developer ElektroBit (EB), which receives a majority of its business from TerreStar Networks, said the operator still owes EB $24.2 million out of the $25.7 million it was contracted for in 2007 to develop the structure of the Genus handset as well as technologies and reference designs for TerreStar’s satellite-terrestrial all-IP mobile network.