AT&T apparently is on its way to best take advantage of forthcoming LTE 4G technology, thanks to its new partnership with TerreStar Networks which has brought the two companies together to work on Genus - a smartphone with dual satellite and cellular connectivity.

Announcing AT&T as a distribution channel for the upcoming Genus, TerreStar - presently developing a satellite terrestrial mobile broadband network - said that it has joined hands with AT&T "to bring to market the first fully integrated satellite cellular smartphone."

In a statement, TerreStar president, Jeffrey Epstein, said: "TerreStar remains focused on offering an integrated satellite and terrestrial communications solution to enable true ubiquity and reliability virtually anywhere in the US to help solve critical communications and business continuity challenges faced by government, emergency responders, enterprises and rural communities."

Saying that the feature-abundant Genus will be comparatively smaller than earlier satellite devices, TerreStar said that Genus, priced between $800 and $900, will run on the Windows Mobile operating system.

The dual-mode smartphone will feature a touch screen; QWERTY keyboard; Wi-Fi; GPS; Bluetooth; and track ball navigation. It will enable users to avail voice and data services' options over either AT&T's cellular network or the TerreStar satellite network.

AT&T and TerreStar officials opine that though the hybrid satellite-cellular service may initially be considered beneficial for vertical markets, like government and public safety, it has immense potential to grow into something bigger!