Satellite Communication Technology Coming to the iPhone and Apple Watch

Last year, rumors spread about the iPhone 13 obtaining the ability to connect to satellites, but this did not happen, and now it is rumored that the upcoming iPhone 14 could support this feature where in emergency situations, SMS text messages can be sent when the iPhone is It's beyond cellular, and now, according to a new report by renowned analyst Mark Gorman, the upcoming Apple Watch could support this additional technology.

The report stated that the Apple Watch is very likely to get this technology, and it may be this year or 2023.

Whether the technology is on the iPhone or the Apple Watch, it will be an alternative to the Garmin inReach Explorer and the SPOT device, which are portable satellite communication devices with similar features.

There have been indications recently that Apple and satellite operator Globalstar may be close to launching such a feature. In February, Globalstar said it had reached an agreement to buy 17 new satellites to help operate its "continuous satellite services" for a "potential" customer who paid it hundreds of millions of dollars. He believes that Apple is this potential customer.

And since it's been rumored that Apple might be targeting three new Watches this year - the Regular model, a new SE model, and an all-new watch dedicated to extreme sports, it would make sense for one or two Apple Watch models to get the technology.

Last year, Gorman was skeptical about the launch of satellite communications with the iPhone 13, saying that the technology was not yet ready to be integrated into new phones. Now, even if this feature launches this year, it will likely be limited to certain places. Gorman said in a previous report:

“These emergency features will only work in areas without cellular coverage and only in select markets. Apple eventually envisions deploying its own set of satellites to send data to devices, but that plan will likely be years away.”

Source:

9to5mac