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The Ericsson R290 is a combined 
The R290 is somewhat larger than typical, pure GSM phones, measuring × × and weighing (with slim battery). The R290 has relatively brief battery life compared with typical, pure GSM phones of its generation.
Because it uses a non-standard battery voltage, its charging connector is not one of the types commonly seen on other Ericsson
R290 Dual-Mode Satellite Phone data sheet
Archived fro
the original
on 2011-03-04. {{Telecommunications R290 Satellite telephony Ericsson Mobile phones introduced in 1999
GSM
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation ( 2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile devices such ...
and satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to other phones or the telephone network by radio through orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites, as cellphones do. The advantage of a sa ...
using the Globalstar
Globalstar, Inc. is an American satellite communications company that operates a low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation for satellite phone and low-speed data communications. The Globalstar second-generation constellation consists of 24 l ...
satellite network. The R290 was introduced in June 1999 and manufactured in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
by Ericsson Mobile Communications
Ericsson Mobile Communications AB was a subsidiary of Ericsson, entirely focused on development of mobile phones (handsets). The major offices were located in Lund, Kumla, Raleigh, North Carolina and Lynchburg, Virginia.
History
Under the command ...
.
The Globalstar uses a foldable antenna
Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to:
Science and engineering
* Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves
* Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...
that is the same length as the body of the telephone. The R290 comes in a blue and black case in a style similar to other Ericsson phones of its period. The case incorporates some Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex is a waterproof, breathable fabric membrane and registered trademark of W. L. Gore & Associates. Invented in 1969, Gore-Tex can repel liquid water while allowing water vapor to pass through and is designed to be a lightweight, waterpr ...
weatherproofing, similar to that used in the Ericsson R310s, although less extensive.
The R290 also has a built-in modem
A modulator-demodulator or modem is a computer hardware device that converts data from a digital format into a format suitable for an analog transmission medium such as telephone or radio. A modem transmits data by Modulation#Digital modulati ...
for data and fax
Fax (short for facsimile), sometimes called telecopying or telefax (the latter short for telefacsimile), is the telephonic transmission of scanned printed material (both text and images), normally to a telephone number connected to a printer o ...
communication at 9.6 kbit/s in GSM mode and 7.2 kbit/s in satellite mode.
The R290 is somewhat larger than typical, pure GSM phones, measuring × × and weighing (with slim battery). The R290 has relatively brief battery life compared with typical, pure GSM phones of its generation.
Because it uses a non-standard battery voltage, its charging connector is not one of the types commonly seen on other Ericsson handset
A handset is a component of a telephone that a user holds to the ear and mouth to receive audio through the receiver and speak to the remote party using the built-in transmitter. In earlier telephones, the transmitter was mounted directly on ...
s. The device was capable of detecting over-voltage from inappropriate charging equipment, and warning the user to disconnect the charger.
The R290 spanned the corporate change from Ericsson to Sony Ericsson
Sony Mobile Communications Inc. ( ja, ソニーモバイルコミュニケーションズ株式会社) was a multinational telecommunications company founded on October 1, 2001, as a joint venture between Sony Group Corporation and Ericsson. I ...
(when many of Ericsson's other phones were redesigned), being the only combined GSM and satellite phone in their range; it was not rebranded, however.
Operators
ForUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
users, access to the Globalstar network was available when using a Vodafone
Vodafone Group Public limited company, plc () is a British Multinational corporation, multinational Telephone company, telecommunications company. Its registered office and Headquarters, global headquarters are in Newbury, Berkshire, England. It ...
GSM SIM card
file:SIM-Karte von Telefónica O2 Europe - Standard und Micro.jpg, A typical SIM card (mini-SIM with micro-SIM cutout)
file:Sim card.png, A smart card taken from a Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM mobile phone
file:Simkarte NFC SecureE ...
. From 2007, the Globalstar network experienced technical problems with its satellites, and the Vodafone arrangement is no longer in place.
References
*External links
Ericsson official Site : * http://www.ericsson.com/thecompany/R290 Dual-Mode Satellite Phone data sheet
Archived fro
the original
on 2011-03-04. {{Telecommunications R290 Satellite telephony Ericsson Mobile phones introduced in 1999