This is a more logical version of the overheated rumors circulating around the iPhone 13 that this phone has satellite connectivity. These rumors turned out to be false. Instead, the next iPhone and a possible future Apple Watch may have something like a SPOT satellite tracker. “Technology will allow users to send text messages to emergency personnel via satellite networks and report incidents,” says Gurman. So far, devices with this capability tend to be relatively large and distinctive, but Apple’s innovation may be the miniature of the technology enough to fit it in a phone.

When will all satellite phones talk?

Specialized satellite phones, as well as satellite connection accessories for your smartphone, have been around for years. They tend to be bulky and expensive because they require more radio power than a standard cell phone. These speak to existing satellite systems such as the constellation Globalstar, which orbits at about 876 miles and uses 25 years of CDMA coding technology. But the advent of much lower orbiting satellites and cheaper launch vehicles, such as SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets, has begun to change the game. Very low-orbit satellites, such as those used by Starlink, are easier to reach for most distant birds. They need more of them to consistently cover any given land area, but this also significantly increases the data capacity of the overall constellation, as more satellites mean more capacity. Starlink is currently orbiting 340-350 miles and plans to run up to 208 miles. Two major companies are working to provide satellite connection to your phone: Lynk and AST. Both are still coming down from the ground, so to speak. Lynk wants to contract with wireless providers to provide backup service where these companies do not have coverage. It plans to launch service with Aliv Wireless in the Bahamas in mid-2020. American consumers should not be too excited yet. It’s a big world out there: Lynk has signed deals in the Bahamas, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Mongolia and the Central African Republic, according to news reports. The company’s CEO told Informa that it aims to provide global connectivity by 2025.

AST, which is still in the testing phase, has signed an agreement with the global carrier Orange.

Will the Apple modem be a satellite modem?

The timeline here can be combined with what we might call the iPhone 17 cycle in 2025. Apple is currently using Qualcomm modems to power its phones, but the company is developing its own modems and is expected to start includes iPhone 2023 or 2024. If Apple thinks ahead and makes satellite a key part of its strategy, it may even make its own global deal with Lynk or AST and optimize its modem for its chosen provider. This could really make 2025 the year without dead zones. Do you like what you read? Subscribe to the Fully Mobilized newsletter to receive our top mobile tech stories directly in your inbox. This newsletter may contain ads, promotions, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter implies your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.