The iPhone’s satellite messaging feature has proven its worth, which is why Android smartphone manufacturers are also looking to implement it.
Mobile waves cover most urban and rural areas but they still do not reach many remote areas. For those experiencing an emergency without a mobile connection, they need to use a smartphone with satellite connectivity to send an emergency text message. The majority of Android smartphones currently don’t support satellite text messaging, but Google may change that with Android 15.
When Apple launched the iPhone 14 series, it also introduced the emergency SOS texting feature. Emergency SOS uses phone antenna hardware to establish a direct connection with satellites orbiting near the Earth. This allows the iPhone to send text messages to emergency services without a cellular connection. During the devastating wildfire in Maui (Hawaii, USA) last August, some people were able to text to ask for help after the fire destroyed local mobile infrastructure.
Android phones will feature satellite connectivity
The iPhone’s Emergency SOS feature has proven its worth, which is why Android smartphone manufacturers are looking to implement the same feature on their products.
Bullitt Corporation (now defunct) was the first to respond to Apple with the Motorola-branded Defy 2 and CAT S75 smartphones announced in early 2023. However, it took months for the phone to The next newly announced Android smartphone has satellite connectivity (Huawei Mate 60). Since then, no more Android phones that support satellite connectivity have been released.
T-Mobile, SpaceX and Android 15
The partnership between T-Mobile and SpaceX, announced in 2022, is noteworthy. SpaceX plans to launch several new Starlink satellites with “Direct to Cell” capability, allowing them to work “with existing LTE phones whenever you can see the sky.” Importantly, Direct to Cell requires no hardware changes on the device. Both companies plan to roll out satellite connectivity support in 2024 (starting with text messaging).
Last month, the first Starlink satellites with Direct to Cell capability launched. T-Mobile could announce a Direct to Cell rollout at any time, and in preparation, Google appears to be adding a feature page called “satellite messaging” right on top of the Android operating system.
While exploring the latest Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2 release, an Android Authority reporter found a “satellite messaging” section in Settings. The “satellite messaging” section describes how “you can send and receive text messages via satellite as part of a qualifying account.” It further describes how your phone will “automatically connect to satellites” when you don’t have a cellular connection, but to get the “best connection,” you need to “point your device toward the sky.” sky” because “weather and certain conditions can affect your satellite connection”.
What’s more, when your phone connects to satellites, you can apparently “text anyone,” not just emergency services. When you return to cellular network coverage, your phone will disconnect from the satellite and reconnect to the cellular network.
The page also states that satellite connectivity is only available “in some areas” and requires adding satellite messaging to your account (i.e. your cellular plan). Although the “satellite messaging” section does not mention the satellite messaging service provider, the buttons to “add satellite messaging” or learn “more about satellite messaging” will lead to the T-Mobile satellite coverage.
This URL is hard-coded into the Android Satellite Messaging page indicating that T-Mobile will indeed be the Android satellite messaging provider. Since T-Mobile is working with SpaceX to connect satellites to phones, it’s likely that Android will use Starlink as a secondary satellite messaging provider.
However, Google has not yet announced its exact plans to support satellite connections on Android. Last month, the company made a strategic investment in AST SpaceMobile, a provider of LEO satellites, so it’s possible that Android’s Satellite Messaging feature will be supported by more users. The carrier offers other satellite connections in the future.