Bloomberg – Apple Inc.’s push to bring satellite capabilities to iPhone will focus on emergency situations, allowing users to send texts to first responders and report accidents in areas without cell phone coverage.
The company is developing at least two related emergency functions that will depend on satellite networks, with the aim of launching them on future iPhones, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
Apple has been working on satellite technology for years, with a team exploring the concept since at least 2017, it reported. Bloomberg. Speculation that the next iPhone will have satellite capabilities spiked this week after TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the phone will likely work with spectrum owned by Globalstar Inc.
This has led to speculation that the iPhone will become something like a satellite phone, freeing users from having to rely on cellular networks. But Apple’s plan is initially more limited in scope, according to the person, focusing on helping customers manage crisis scenarios.
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And while the next iPhone might have the hardware necessary for satellite communications, andIt is unlikely that the performances will be ready before next year, said another person, who asked not to be identified because the plans are not yet public. Features may also be changed or removed prior to release.
An Apple representative declined to comment.
The first component, called Satellite Emergency Messages, will allow users to send text messages to emergency services and your contacts over a satellite network when there is no cell signal available. This feature will be integrated into the Messages app as a third protocol, alongside standard SMS and iMessage, and will appear with gray message bubbles instead of green or blue. The second function will be a tool to report major emergencies, such as air accidents and ship sinks, also using satellite networks.
The satellite messaging tool, codenamed Stewie within Apple, will restrict messages to shorter lengths. Text messages will automatically be sent to an emergency contact’s phone, even if do not disturb is enabled. One of the planned layouts will allow the user to send the message by typing “SOS Emergency” in the place where the contact’s name is normally entered. Besides sending text messages, the service may be able to handle some phone calls as well.
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This option will be useful in areas such as remote mountains or lakes, where 4G or 5G coverage may not be available. As part of its broader efforts, Apple has even considered eventually rolling out its own satellites, but this feature is likely to rely on existing networks.
The second emergency function focuses on allowing users to report a crisis. The phone will ask what kind of emergency is occurring, for example, if it is a car, boat, plane or fire.
The system is also capable of taking more specific information, such as the fall of a person overboard or the sinking of a ship. It will ask the user if search and rescue services are needed, if there is suspicious behavior or weapons involved, and if a person has suffered a traumatic injury.
When communicating with emergency services, the feature can send a user’s location and medical identification, a virtual card in the Health app with a list of the user’s medical history, age, medications, and information such as height and the weight. It can also notify the user’s emergency contacts, usually their family, friends, or doctors.
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It is not clear which emergency services or providers the system would turn to. Feature set would compete with Garmin inReach device, which allows users to send short messages or an SOS via satellite networks.
Both functions depend, of course, on the availability of satellites and local regulations. They are not designed to work in all countries, and Apple has created a mechanism that will ask users to be outdoors and walk in a certain direction to help the iPhone connect to a satellite. Linking to a network will also not always be instantaneous, as tests of the function indicate that it can sometimes take up to a minute to work.
To connect to the satellites, Apple will need a special chip. Although the company is developing its own custom cellular modems for use in the next few years, it still plans to rely on a modem from Qualcomm Inc. in the short term.
Speculation that the next iPhone will have satellite capabilities sent Globalstar shares skyrocketing on Monday. This company previously said it had signed an agreement with an unidentified party to develop a new service, a disclosure that some now believe is evidence that it is Apple’s partner.
Apple is not partnering with its Globalstar rival, Iridium Communications Inc. And Omnispace LLC, another satellite company, has yet to commit to building systems that can support such services, said industry analyst Tim Farrar.
Globalstar gained 64% to $ 42.35 before Monday’s close. Stocks fell back in recent trading, falling as much as 24%, but cut losses after Bloomberg inform about Apple’s plans. Iridium fell as much as 7.4% in long-term operations.
Apple plans to introduce its latest iPhones in the middle of next month. Beyond possible satellite functionality, the company plans to include a narrower screen cutout with an updated Face ID system and a faster processor. The new model will also feature major camera hardware and software updates.
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