‘Samsung is working on satellite communication for Galaxy S23 devices’ – Tablets and phones – News

Nice.. Iridium is a much better network than the GlobalStar that Apple uses (Iridium has truly global coverage because the satellites are connected, whereas globalstar has a “bent tube” construction that has to send everything back to earth). Iridium satellites are much smarter and can really work together, globalstar is a kind of mirror that “reflects” your signal back to earth, so you need to be close to a ground station.

Very interesting even if you can use it not only for emergencies but also for SMS and small pictures.

I currently use a Garmin InReach Mini which also uses the Iridium network for short text messages (no pictures) and emergency assistance. It would be nice to have it in one device. Though you may have to manually align the antenna due to the lower gain, like Apple does on the iPhone 14 too, but however little I use it, it’s not really a problem.

Apple’s option is too limited with emergency assistance only (also, I have too many normal smartphone requirements that can’t be used on iOS). Otherwise I would have bought a PLB (a Personal Locator Beacon), which can also only request emergency assistance and has no subscription costs, like the InReach Mini has. But being able to send and receive short messages wherever you are (I walk a lot) is my scope, it doesn’t necessarily have to be an emergency.

But it’s smart of Samsung to focus on that. For me, it’s truly a feature I’d pay more for. The InReach has already cost me 300 euros and the subscription is 20 per month (in the months I use it). This is much more useful to me than another extra camera or a few extra GB of storage that I don’t use anyway. But it really has to be more than just emergency assistance, ordinary communication outside of network coverage is the scenario I’m looking for.

Iridium is a much better network than Globalstar. I totally agree with you. But a handy antenna or an extending Iridium phone antenna can’t compare to your smartphone’s antennas that can come into contact through tuning and aligning, but it never gets truly optimal.

But Iridium also needs a clear satellite view, and it doesn’t work if you’re stuck in a canyon, or it works less or in fits and starts if you’re among dense forests or in a city. In an emergency, I’d really rather rely on a handy one than a Samsung S23. Despite that, I think it’s great that Samsung does this.

Just like Globalstar, Iridium also works with ground stations/gateways, but after the failure of Iridium 1, some ground stations were scrapped to save costs for a restart like Iridium LCC. After a financial injection and a large purchase of subscription devices by the US military, Iridium was saved.

And Iridium also has 2 systems, the reliable Iridium net for voice, SMS and slow data and Iridium Next which replaces the old satellites. Unfortunately, satellites have a limited shelf life. That is why “spare parts” are often thrown. Satellites that are on standby until a satellite fails or is hit by debris, etc. in the space. You also see networks change with satellites in coverage and capacity, Ukraine is now an example. So hedging is always a risk.

I find the function beautiful and spectacular on the one hand. On the other hand, I find this exciting for daily practice:

Those who buy a latest generation telephone often study the possibilities in advance, the tariff plans (for example a prepaid SIM or a subscription), the coverage regions, etc. For example, Iridium has cheaper and more expensive regional prepaid SIM cards worldwide. These customers are aware of the possibilities and impossibilities and coverage of satellite communication.

My concern is precisely with the average consumer: they have no idea under what circumstances a satellite connection will or will not work. Your device’s software can definitely help you with this (see Apple’s implementation), but it’s pretty harsh when someone hikes a mountain or enters a canyon and just concludes that the satellite connection won’t work if you fall with a broken leg motionless there. So the feature is actually more dangerous than it comforts. Unfortunately, so far I see very little of it in communications and news. So what if the average consumer doesn’t just think they have the same connection everywhere like now on 2,3,4 and 5G? I’ve already heard colleagues think that their cell phone works via satellite or mobile telephony is completely wireless, rather than via fixed transmission towers that are connected to the network with cables.

But honestly: it would be something for me to buy a Samsung top model again.