Android handsets may soon adopt emergency satellite communication, which Apple included to its iPhone 14 models last autumn. At CES 2023, Qualcomm just unveiled Snapdragon Satellite, a two-way satellite messaging service that would be offered for the following generation of high-end Android handsets.
This collaboration is made possible by Iridium, which manages a 66-satellite constellation in low-Earth orbit. One of its biggest rivals is Globalstar, Apple’s service partner.
With Snapdragon Satellite, two-way emergency messaging as well as SMS texting and other messaging applications will be possible. In a very unambiguous statement, Qualcomm says that it will be utilised in remote, rural, and far-off regions for additional purposes in addition to emergencies. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset will be used in devices.
The next generation of smartphones, according to Qualcomm, will include a Snapdragon Satellite-based emergency messaging capability. The product will debut in a few places in the second half of 2023.
Other gadgets like computers, tablets, and vehicles can use Snapdragon Satellite as well. OEMs and app developers can provide distinctive services that benefit from satellite connectivity. As soon as they become available, 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) will be supported by the satellite as well.
