Technology
Satellite Connectivity: What is it and why it is important for your phone
Imagine this: You’re setting out on an adventure into the wilderness, miles away from the nearest cell tower when suddenly things go south. Or you’re in an area hit by a natural disaster where the usual phone networks are down. That’s when your smartphone with satellite connectivity, becomes more than just a phone; it turns into your lifeline, a light in the dark, when everything else fails.
What is Satellite Connectivity?
Satellite connectivity allows your smartphone to communicate directly with satellites in Earth’s orbit when you’re out of the reach of cell networks.
Think of it like this: when you’re too far out for your phone to catch any signal, satellite connectivity kicks in. Your phone turns into a tiny satellite station all on its own. It will send your messages or calls to a satellite way up in space, and that satellite passes it along, keeping you connected when you’re literally off the grid.
How Does It Work?
When you’re in an area with no cellular service, your smartphone can switch to satellite mode. Here’s what happens:
- Direct Connection: Your phone sends a signal directly up to a satellite in the sky. This means you need to have a good view of the sky – no tall buildings or dense forests in the way. That’s why this tech is a real game-changer when you’re out in the wide open, far from civilization.
- Signal Relay: Once your phone’s signal reaches the satellite, it gets bounced back down to a ground station. This station is like a bridge; it links up with the regular phone network or the internet. So, you can send a text or, in some cases, even make calls.
Eligible Devices
As of now, not all smartphones support satellite connectivity. The following smartphones are known to support satellite connectivity:
Apple iPhone Series:
- iPhone 14 and later models (including all variants like Pro and Pro Max). These models support emergency SOS via satellite.
Huawei:
- Huawei Mate 60 Pro, which allows for satellite calls.
Samsung:
- There are no officially confirmed Galaxy devices eligible for this feature. Samsung is currently working on adding satellite connectivity, potentially starting with the Galaxy S25, as per reports.
Google Pixel:
- Google Pixel 9 supports satellite connectivity, known as Satellite SOS. This Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold support this.
Android Devices with Specific Chipsets:
- Devices equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and possibly later versions were expected to offer two-way satellite messaging.
Features
- Emergency SOS: It allows users to send distress signals or share location with emergency services.
- Text Messaging: Beyond emergencies, some services allow for regular text messaging, though this might come with a subscription or per-message fee after an initial free period.
- Subscription Models: Initially, Apple offers emergency services for free, but for broader use, like messaging or data, there could be charges. The US network carrier, T-Mobile, is looking into how they can mix this satellite magic into their regular plans.
Wider Rollout:
The rollout is in progress, with companies like Apple, Google, and SpaceX’s Starlink working to make this technology more accessible. Starlink’s partnership with T-Mobile hints at a future where even data services could be available, turning remote dead zones into areas of connectivity.
Satellite connectivity in phones isn’t just cool tech; it’s a big step towards making sure everyone can communicate, no matter where they are. As it gets better, expect it to be cheaper, in more phones, and easier to use. Right now, it’s great for emergencies, but soon, you might be able to chat or send messages from anywhere on Earth, even in the most remote places.
Samsung inked deal with Korea’s Rebellions to produce 2nm AI CPU chip. The chip design startup recently announced its partnership with ARM, Samsung Elec, and ADTechnology.
KEDGlobal reports that Rebellions collaborating with ADTechnology, ARM, and Samsung for 2nm AI chips. This multi-firm partnership is expected to utilize Samsung’s cutting-edge 2nm process.
Rebellions will integrate its AI accelerator, REBEL, with ADTechnology’s compute chiplet powered by ARM Neoverse Compute Subsystems (CSS) V3 technology.
ADTechnology will design and implement the chiplet using Samsung’s cutting-edge 2nm process node and ensure the production of high-quality chips at a sufficient yield rate.
The partnership is aimed at developing a new AI central processing unit chiplet. The companies aim to enhance AI computing capabilities for clients and consumers.
The product is expected to set a new standard for a scalable and efficient silicon solution that combines Rebellions’ expertise in chip design levering on ARM, Samsung, and ADTechnology.
With the stable release of Android 15, along with several new features, satellite messaging has now become available for a few Android devices. The feature allows you to send and receive messages via satellite when you are outside of cellular or Wi-Fi coverage areas. It is particularly useful in emergencies or in remote areas where normal network coverage is unavailable.
To be specific, who can use this? Satellite messaging in Android 15 has started to come for users with compatible devices, like the Google Pixel series, and specific carriers like T-Mobile (thanks to Elon Musk’s Starlink).
For T-Mobile users running eligible devices with the latest Android 15 OS, you can access this feature by going through Settings > Network & Internet > SIMs > T-Mobile and tapping on Satellite Messaging. Don’t forget, you still need an eligible T-Mobile plan to use satellite messaging.
As of now, this is limited to a few devices which are expected to be available for more devices with necessary hardware requirements in the future.
Keep in mind, even though Android 15 includes this emergency feature, you might not see it right away. This can depend on your phone model, where you live, or which mobile service you use.
Just for your information, Apple has already enabled satellite communication for its iPhones.
At the recent SDC24 event, Samsung announced that it is bringing One UI to its all products and now the rollout has begun for its TVs. The company has started rolling out this One UI update for Samsung smart TVs.
Samsung is making a One UI update based on the Tizen 8.0 operating system available for 2023 Samsung smart TVs. One of the first models to get this update is the S90C OLED TV.
With this update, users will notice a fresh new interface that makes it easier to navigate their TV. It also brings improvements to the Game Bar, which will help gamers have a smoother and more fun gaming experience.
One UI update aims to provide a fresh look and feel across all Samsung devices. Whether you’re using a smartphone, tablet, or now, a TV, you’ll find the experience familiar and user-friendly.
As the update becomes available for more models, Samsung TV users can look forward to more enhancements to perform better. The company will soon make this update available for more Galaxy products as Samsung announced unified software for all its products.
This is just the beginning of that promise. Starting in 2025, Samsung plans to unify the software for all its products under the One UI brand, making it easier for users to navigate and enjoy their devices.
One UI for All Devices: Samsung announces unified software for 2025