Smart announced today its partnership with Thuraya Telecommunications, a leading mobile satellite service provider to make satellite communications more accessible and relevant to a wider market.
For the people working in the maritime industry, shipping, disaster and rescue agency, and for the groups that goes to places that has no usual cellphone signal. Smart and Thuraya has the solution for you. Turn your iPhone 5 into a satellite phone with Thuraya SatSleeve, just attach your iPhone 5 to the battery pack-like body with satellite antenna and your are off to send and receive data via satellite.
Aside from the SatSleeve you need to download an IOS App that will control and turn your iPhone 5 as a satellite phone. 
Together with Thuraya SatSleeve for iPhone5, Marino PhonePal, the only satellite voice call service that will provide satellite coverage while at sea. 
Marino Phonepal and SatSleeve are the first two products line up of Smart Satellite Services. Smart and Thuraya are optimistic to grow the business with the inclusion of other industries and distribution of products and services to international market.
Marino PhonePal uses SF2500 and is available on Prepaid, a PIN-based service, and cards are available in P300, 500, 1000 denominations. Marino PhonePal is basically a satellite phone service, while the SatSleeve will allow your iPhone to enjoy data, SMS and call and satellite phone calls. Services are currently available for companies, but Smart promised they will roll out one for mass market soon.
The SatSleeve product details will be disclosed to public by October. SatSleeve will be available for iPhone 4, 4S and 5. The Android users will have to expect similar product very soon, according to Thuraya; this is because Android smartphone upgrades its line up very fast unlike the iPhone.
Satellite phone services of Smart is designed four outgoing calls only.
i wonder how this is performing