With the iPhone 14 final fall, Apple unveiled its new Emergency SOS by way of satellite characteristic that enables customers to contact emergency providers and ship quick textual content messages and not using a mobile connection. Apple is working with Globalstar on its satellite know-how, and in a brand new FCC submitting, Globalstar hints at an enlargement of iPhone satellite features.
Right earlier than Apple’s announcement, nevertheless, T-Mobile and Starlink additionally teamed as much as announce imprecise plans to carry direct Starlink connection to present iPhone and Android gadgets. In a subsequent FCC submitting, T-Mobile wrote, “Today’s ubiquitous consumer devices will not support reception of MSS (mobile satellite service) signals.”
SpaceX and T-Mobile suggest to supply supplemental protection from area, or SCS, by its partnership.
As T-Mobile and SpaceX have defined, SCS is especially enticing as a result of it depends on gadgets that buyers already use at the moment; they’ll merely obtain satellite indicators utilizing those self same gadgets in areas the place they don’t obtain terrestrial indicators. While the general public curiosity might favor further use of spectrum designated for MSS use, at the moment’s ubiquitous client gadgets won’t assist reception of MSS indicators.
In a brand new submitting noticed by PCMag this week, Globalstar is pushing again on T-Mobile’s claims that at the moment’s client gadgets don’t assist satellite connectivity utilizing MSS.
Globalstar already helps direct-to-device MSS for emergency communications in mass-market client gadgets and is delivering extraordinary public curiosity advantages globally, together with in rural and distant areas. In 2022, Apple Inc. introduced a revolutionary, direct-to-handset “Emergency SOS via satellite” characteristic utilizing Globalstar’s MSS community that’s now obtainable to customers of the iPhone 14 household of gadgets.
Apple’s Emergency SOS by way of satellite characteristic permits customers to provoke emergency communications by MSS transceivers contained in these gadgets and helps two-way messaging communications between the person and public security response personnel.
This characteristic has already resulted in lots of lifesaving rescues since its launch.
Globalstar continues, touting that through the use of MSS, it should additionally have the ability to enhance its implementation of satellite know-how sooner or later.
“Globalstar’s MSS system will continue to evolve over time to support a growing array of direct-to-handset features and services in its licensed spectrum,” the corporate says. “Ultimately, hundreds of millions of people globally will have Globalstar connectivity at their fingertips in situations where communications are critical, and no terrestrial network is available.”
With this in thoughts, Globalstar can also be calling on the FCC to make sure that SCS “does not cause harmful interference to other satellite systems, both inside and outside the United States.”
9to5Mac’s Take
It’s not at all stunning to listen to Globalstar verify its plans to proceed investing in satellite connectivity features for iPhone customers. After all, Apple itself has invested $450 million in supporting satellite connectivity infrastructure and growth. A big portion of that funding goes on to Globalstar.
What’s attention-grabbing is that Globalstar’s response is directed to T-Mobile and Starlink, that are pushing to carry satellite internet connectivity to smartphone customers. Is Globalstar hinting at its plans to do the identical utilizing MSS know-how? It sounds that method.
Currently, Emergency SOS by way of satellite helps the power to ship quick textual content messages, share location information, and make contact with emergency providers. The characteristic is free for two years, with Apple presumably planning a subscription service as soon as that interval expires. The thought of paying turns into much more attractive if the satellite features additionally embrace internet connectivity and telephone calls.
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