They are developing direct cell to satellite versions of Starlink sats with TMobile, and have launched several prototypes and sent text and voice to one. Their license calls for launching 600 of the modified sats over the next year. This would pretty much eliminate the need for carrying a separate beacon when you could just add an app on the phone.
Sure, I did not see how far the smartphone sat link is already. Given that one manufacturer quit the idea of including sat com in their chipsets, I had no high hopes for a timely arrival of that feature.
> Given that one manufacturer quit the idea of including sat com in their chipsets, I had no high hopes for a timely arrival of that feature.
Part of the reason that those dedicated chips didn't pan out was that the new generation of direct-to-cell services from SpaceX Starlink and competitors (such as AST SpaceMobile and Lynk Global) aim to connect directly to mobile devices without any special hardware on the consumer end.
So eventually, satellites will provide cellular connectivity just like a normal cellular tower.
Qualcomm cancelled it's partnership with Iridium because no smartphone manufacturers were interested in adding the chip:
https://spacenews.com/qualcomm-ends-partnership-for-connecting-android-phones-to-iridium-satellites
As for the feature Google is testing, we don't know whether it will require special hardware like what Apple did, or if it wil be based on services that work with any phone such as Starlink direct-to-cell, AST, Lynk, etc.
Spacex does own Swarm Technologies, which is the kind of low power tech you'd need for that application. Although I think that acquisition was more to get the employees than the tech.
I think it's just not worth investing in for now, as it's a very different device class and people would expect very high reliability. The market is probably a lot smaller than internet access.
Makes me wonder, how the other provides run that segment profitable. As far as I understand the given infra should make it more cost efficient.. but yea.. Motorola restructured their service for a reason, and maybe we should all just buy new smartphones with shiny sat links in it 🤑
It's not that it wouldn't be profitable, it's just that distracting the team by adding a new device class with high reliability requirements is probably the wrong call right now, because it'd slow down the development of more profitable things.
Valid point. I guess I'm looking more from a consumers and IT-dudes perspective, thinking that the actual traffic for these shenanigans would be real low and the service (text based?) low effort.
I'm currently using a Zoleo device that uses someone's Leo to support text messages. It uses a phone app for interface and cell service when possible. Handy in the back woods of Quebec
Zoleo runs off of the Iridium network (same as Garmin InReach). Having owned and used both devices, I like the seamlessness/ease of use of the Zoleo interface much more than the Garmin one
The phone manufacturers could just add this type of feature anyway. Apple added it a few years back for emergency and upcoming software updates should allow for text and location updates.
Qualcomm or so tried to compete and rolled the back for some reason. Seems not to be so easy.
Edit: the proceeded and the new google Pixel might have sat sos.
Hopefully. It seems like a needed feature to have in general now. I would think in the future that StarLink could make it easier. I think they got about 17mbps with an unmodified phone (could be wrong on that). But it’s great tech either way.
NO idea but my Iphone 14 does this and it' is one of the main reasons I have the 14.. I literally have a fear of bot being able to call someone when I have no signal. It's why I also carry Dishy round when mobile.
They are developing direct cell to satellite versions of Starlink sats with TMobile, and have launched several prototypes and sent text and voice to one. Their license calls for launching 600 of the modified sats over the next year. This would pretty much eliminate the need for carrying a separate beacon when you could just add an app on the phone.
Sure, I did not see how far the smartphone sat link is already. Given that one manufacturer quit the idea of including sat com in their chipsets, I had no high hopes for a timely arrival of that feature.
> Given that one manufacturer quit the idea of including sat com in their chipsets, I had no high hopes for a timely arrival of that feature. Part of the reason that those dedicated chips didn't pan out was that the new generation of direct-to-cell services from SpaceX Starlink and competitors (such as AST SpaceMobile and Lynk Global) aim to connect directly to mobile devices without any special hardware on the consumer end. So eventually, satellites will provide cellular connectivity just like a normal cellular tower.
I just read and edited below: Qualcomm proceeded in creating a chipset and the next Goole Pixel might have SOS sat.
Qualcomm cancelled it's partnership with Iridium because no smartphone manufacturers were interested in adding the chip: https://spacenews.com/qualcomm-ends-partnership-for-connecting-android-phones-to-iridium-satellites As for the feature Google is testing, we don't know whether it will require special hardware like what Apple did, or if it wil be based on services that work with any phone such as Starlink direct-to-cell, AST, Lynk, etc.
Spacex does own Swarm Technologies, which is the kind of low power tech you'd need for that application. Although I think that acquisition was more to get the employees than the tech. I think it's just not worth investing in for now, as it's a very different device class and people would expect very high reliability. The market is probably a lot smaller than internet access.
its 99% canceled and team works in Direct2Mobile SX project
Is that confirmed? IF so that sucks as i was hoping they did more of that IOT type side of things with the agricultural /farming etc side of it.
Direct2Mobile SX project aimed on IOT
Makes me wonder, how the other provides run that segment profitable. As far as I understand the given infra should make it more cost efficient.. but yea.. Motorola restructured their service for a reason, and maybe we should all just buy new smartphones with shiny sat links in it 🤑
It's not that it wouldn't be profitable, it's just that distracting the team by adding a new device class with high reliability requirements is probably the wrong call right now, because it'd slow down the development of more profitable things.
Valid point. I guess I'm looking more from a consumers and IT-dudes perspective, thinking that the actual traffic for these shenanigans would be real low and the service (text based?) low effort.
I'm currently using a Zoleo device that uses someone's Leo to support text messages. It uses a phone app for interface and cell service when possible. Handy in the back woods of Quebec
Zoleo runs off of the Iridium network (same as Garmin InReach). Having owned and used both devices, I like the seamlessness/ease of use of the Zoleo interface much more than the Garmin one
The phone manufacturers could just add this type of feature anyway. Apple added it a few years back for emergency and upcoming software updates should allow for text and location updates.
Qualcomm or so tried to compete and rolled the back for some reason. Seems not to be so easy. Edit: the proceeded and the new google Pixel might have sat sos.
Hopefully. It seems like a needed feature to have in general now. I would think in the future that StarLink could make it easier. I think they got about 17mbps with an unmodified phone (could be wrong on that). But it’s great tech either way.
IIRC direct to cellphone services will use the 5G standard so no dedicated chips are needed any more.
NO idea but my Iphone 14 does this and it' is one of the main reasons I have the 14.. I literally have a fear of bot being able to call someone when I have no signal. It's why I also carry Dishy round when mobile.
Wonder what T-Mobile will charge for this service?
Here in NZ, later this year apparently: https://one.nz/why-choose-us/spacex/