[zimmertr]

There are rumors making their way around the internet today that the next iPhone will have satellite connectivity support via a customized Qualcomm X60 chip. You can find a wealth of discussion and articles on the topic via this Twitter query: https://twitter.com/search?q=iphone+13+satellite This could really change the satellite communicator game. I hate the user experience of my Garmin InReach and would love to be able to free my pack of it by having that functionality within my smart phone. Not to mention how many more people will now have access to satellite communication in times of emergency. This could be huge! And will undoubtedly save many lives! I've been wondering for years why consumer cell phones didn't have satellite capabilities.

[Randito]

Low earth orbit to me sounds like Musk's StarLink system. Subscribe for $99/month. However, don't get your hopes up too much as checking in this area, there is this message on the StarLink website:

[zimmertr]

[Randito]

It's possible that it is iridium -- satellite phone service on the iridium network runs about $70 / month for 60 minutes of talk time -- data time is charged the same as talk time. So posting photos during a trip would be pretty spendy. What would be interesting is if they offer some sort of limited use satellite service where you can use your iPhone 13 like an InReach messenger at a similar price point to "emergency" InReach service of $15/month. That would be somewhat atypical of Apple -- if they follow past business practices -- early iPhone 13 users will be suprised by >$1K monthly bills the 1st time they wander out of cell tower service areas and it "by default" switches to satellite internet services for downloading ads for the last thing they bought on Amazon to their Facebook app.

[Wake_and_Bait]

Inreach took years to develop and not much changed when garmin took over. It still is not perfect. I would not buy into this in beta mode, wait a few years and we will see.

[cdestroyer]

many years ago a test was done to see what kind of communication was possible...I believe this occured on the east coast but could well have been done anywhere. using a common cb radio and homebrew antenna a mayday was sent sky ward and picked up on a sideband from a satellite monitoring station.

[InFlight]

Hard to see how a satellite antenna would fit in a standard iPhone case that’s already stuffed with electronics and batteries. Without an external antenna it would be unlikely to have omni-directional performance. Probably would be much better served by Garmin. I used IPhones since the 6S, so I a fan of the device.

[Randito]

https://www.pcmag.com/opinions/that-whole-iphone-satellite-thing-was-bogus

[zimmertr]

[Randito]

The PC mag article is dated 9/14 post iPhone 13 debute, the Bloomberg article is dated 8/30 pre debute. Since the iPhone 13 doesn't offer satellite messager features of any sort -- so I think claiming the speculation that the iPhone 13 would have such features as bogus is legit. Apple has been rumored to be working on iPhone satellite connectivity since 2017. Maybe in the iPhone 14 in two years.

[zimmertr]

https://old.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/wyafeh/spacex_and_tmobile_team_up_to_get_rid_of_all/ https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/26/apple-globalstar-iphone-14-satellite-rumor/

[zimmertr]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-08-28/what-s-coming-at-apple-s-aapl-sept-7-far-out-iphone-14-event-l7ddween

[Cyclopath]

https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/30/23328650/apple-watch-pro-satellite-smartwatch-fitness Apple wants to make a watch to compete with Garmin. Which means rugged and battery life measured in days not hours. It will eventually have two way satellite connectivity but don't hold your breath.

[zimmertr]

It's official. Go Apple!

[call-151]

Sounds interesting! Between this and the Spacex/T-Mobile announcement I think in a few years the inreach and zoleo devices will be obsolete. More details: User must orient the iphone until it is in the correct position pointing at the satellite. Available in US and Canada 2 years of service included when you buy an iphone. It would be nice if non-emergency messaging was possible but it doesn't look like it. Obviously low bandwidth so only basic messaging possible.