Google might recreate Apple’s satellite SOS on Android

Google seems to be working on a satellite SOS characteristic for Google Messages that might let customers textual content emergency providers from distant areas with out a standard cell sign. As noticed by developer Neïl Rahmouni, early code within the Google Messages app exhibits work on an integration with Garmin and its emergency Garmin Response service. Google additionally seems to have began work on a UI for messaging emergency responders.

Garmin’s emergency service makes use of the Iridium satellite community, which Iridium says is able to delivering a sign “anywhere on Earth.” There is an enormous catch, although, relating to utilizing satellite SOS providers from Garmin: it requires a $15 per thirty days subscription on Garmin’s personal units. So whereas this may be an awesome characteristic to have on your telephone, you’d doubtless have to repeatedly pay for entry in the event you’re involved you’ll ever want it.

Apple launched emergency SOS messaging on the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro final yr. The characteristic directs customers to level their telephone within the route of a satellite to get a connection, then lets them ship a collection of prewritten emergency responses, like that they’ve a car problem or are trapped. Apple has made the service free for 2 years, with the implication being that customers will ultimately need to pay. The firm hasn’t but introduced what the worth will likely be, and there’s nonetheless greater than a yr to go earlier than the primary free trials can have ended.

Rahmouni speculates that Google’s service could possibly be accessible in additional than 150 nations. While that’s attainable based mostly on the attain of Iridium’s community, Apple’s service is presently solely provided in 14 nations and never each location that its satellite supplier, Globalstar, is ready to attain. So it’s not a certain factor that Google’s model would launch globally.

Google isn’t alone in bringing satellite providers to Android. Qualcomm can also be working on including help for SOS messaging by way of Iridium with a service it’s calling Snapdragon Satellite. Qualcomm’s service additionally works with Garmin Response. The firm stated in February that Honor, Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi are all presently working on telephones with {hardware} that helps the characteristic.

It’s attainable that what we’re seeing in Google Messages is simply the UI for telephones that help Snapdragon Satellite. But Google has individually stated that it’s working on supporting satellite web service in Android 14. And if satellite SOS providers are going to be provided throughout Pixel or Samsung telephones, which don’t all use Qualcomm processors, it’ll be obligatory for Google to develop its personal infrastructure to help this emergency tech — so we might simply be seeing the early indicators of that.