Australia’s Optus is hoping to deliver a large choice of mobile phones to Australians by teaming up with Thuraya Telecommunications according to a report on Slashphone.

Optus is to retail two new Thuraya mobile handsets, a GSM/Satellite dual mode handset and a Satellite only handset.

Head of Optus Satellite, Paul Sheridan says: “This partnership means that customers in regional areas will no longer need to carry around multiple or bulky handsets. With the GSM/Satellite dual mode handset customers will be able to use the same phone on both the Optus GSM and Thuraya Satellite networks.”

What do the Thuraya next generation single mode Satellite only and dual mode GSM/Satellite have to offer feature wise? Here are just a few; world’s smallest, lightest and compact Satellite phone; feature rich applications including; SMS, Built in GPS and Camera (dual mode handset only), as well as the ability to connect a Bluetooth device; network selection between the Optus GSM and Thuraya Satellite networks (dual mode handset only).

Optus plans on offering both Thuraya mobile phones at Optus World and Optus Wholesale partners later this year