Qualcomm to bring Apple's satellite messaging feature to Android devices

[Daniel Sims]

Something to look forward to: When Apple unveiled the iPhone 14 last fall, its signature feature was a satellite-based communication service for emergency calls beyond the reach of wireless networks. At CES this week, Qualcomm announced plans to bring similar functionality to future Android phones.

Premium Android smartphones based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform will gain access to a satellite-based two-way messaging system in certain regions starting in the second half of this year. The company made the announcement this week at CES 2023.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon Satellite is a response to the Emergency SOS system Apple launched last year for the iPhone 14. Through a network of satellites and ground relay stations Apple helped fund, iPhone 14 users traveling outside traditional wireless network range can transmit their locations if they become lost.

The system works by directing users to point their phones toward a satellite which will then relay to a ground station and the appropriate emergency services. Emergency SOS is paid, but newly purchased iPhones include a free two-year subscription. It isn't clear whether users will need to pay for Snapdragon Satellite. T-Mobile announced a similar feature using Starlink last summer, supporting SMS, MMS, and participating messaging apps.

Snapdragon Satellite will use Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF Systems in concert with the Iridium satellite constellation's weather-resistant L-band spectrum. Apple's system uses the L and S-band, which ITU Radio Regulations designated for mobile satellite communication. The Qualcomm counterpart will support 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks as they become available.

In addition to emergency services, Qualcomm intends to use Snapdragon Satellite for SMS texting and other recreational and professional applications, allowing OEMs and third-party developers to build software leveraging it. The two-way communication system will eventually come to devices other than smartphones, like tablets, laptops, vehicles, and IoT devices.

Qualcomm revealed Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 last November as a new chip platform to power the latest flagship Android phones. The SoC's 4nm-based Kryo CPU features a 3.2GHz core, four 2.8GHz cores, and three 2.0GHz cores. The Adreno GPU supports Vulkan 1.3, OpenGL ES 3.2, OpenCL 2.0 FP, Unreal Engine 5, and hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Currently-available models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 include the Xiaomi 13 series, Moto X40, and Vivo X90 Pro+, while more are on the way from Asus, OnePlus, and Sony. Qualcomm hasn't revealed precisely which phones would first receive Snapdragon Satellite.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/97198-qualcomm-bring-apple-satellite-messaging-feature-android-devices.html

 

[Kashim]

"Emergency SOS is paid, but newly purchased iPhones include a free two-year subscription."

So it's an emergency feature that you will almost never use unless you get stranded in the middle of nowhere or get lost in the wilderness, but they expect you to pay a monthly subscription for it? Hard pass.

 

[kiwigraeme]

"Emergency SOS is paid, but newly purchased iPhones include a free two-year subscription."

So it's an emergency feature that you will almost never use unless you get stranded in the middle of nowhere or get lost in the wilderness, but they expect you to pay a monthly subscription for it? Hard pass.

You can also buy a or rent an emergency beacon - highly recommended in NZ for walking in mountains with no cell coverage - Our Dept of Conservation has a sweet fixed rental price.

 

[ferrellsl]

"Emergency SOS is paid, but newly purchased iPhones include a free two-year subscription."

So it's an emergency feature that you will almost never use unless you get stranded in the middle of nowhere or get lost in the wilderness, but they expect you to pay a monthly subscription for it? Hard pass.

Yeah, that's why it's called an emergency. And what's wrong with paying for it? You really didn't expect such a service for free did you? Launching satellite networks and building a support infrastructure for them is expensive as well as the cost for maintaining them, and no one is forcing you to subscribe to their service. For people who travel thru, live in, or work in remote areas where cell service is spotty, it's a welcome service. Not everybody lives, works and travels in urban areas where fire, police, towing, and EMT services are just around the corner.

 

[Hexic]

Yeah, that's why it's called an emergency. And what's wrong with paying for it? You really didn't expect such a service for free did you? Launching satellite networks and building a support infrastructure for them is expensive as well as the cost for maintaining them, and no one is forcing you to subscribe to their service. For people who travel thru, live in, or work in remote areas where cell service is spotty, it's a welcome service. Not everybody lives, works and travels in urban areas where fire, police, towing, and EMT services are just around the corner.

It could be included in the standard service package as an incentive to switch to iPhone, but they would rather charge for another Apple product instead.

In time, services such as these will be included as a standard feature set. Apple is just choosing to follow their standard business practices.

I hope the Android equivalent won't charge, but I unfortunately wouldn't be surprised either way.

 

[Hodor]

"Not enough funds on your credit card, SOS cannot be sent. Do you have another card?"

 

[Tams80]

It could be included in the standard service package as an incentive to switch to iPhone, but they would rather charge for another Apple product instead.

In time, services such as these will be included as a standard feature set. Apple is just choosing to follow their standard business practices.

I hope the Android equivalent won't charge, but I unfortunately wouldn't be surprised either way.

Maybe, but this isn't just and arbitrary service that they've hacked off existing infrastructure.

It's using satellites that are owned and controlled by different companies, and those satellite networks aren't cheap to setup.

You can see that from how much Iridium charge (and they aren't being greedy, as they don't make massive profits).

As @kiwigraeme pointed out, for emergency use governments can get cheaper prices that they can pass on, or subsidise. Perhaps that could be extended to smartphone access. But in those cases, though really are better off with a beacon that'll be almost guaranteed to have a charge.