Apple โplans Expansion of iPhone Satellite Capabilities, Including Photo Sharingโ and Enhancedโฃ Maps
CUPERTINO, โCAโข -โ November 10,โฃ 2023 – Apple โis developing new features โฃto expand the satellite connectivityโ of its iPhones, potentially allowing usersโ to send photos via โsatellite, โฃaccess โฃimproved 5G coverage,โข andโฃ utilize satellite-enhanced navigationโข in Apple Maps, according to a report by bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Introduced with the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature inโค 2022 and expanded toโค includeโข Messages via Satellite withโข iOS 18, Apple’s satellite capabilities currently offer limited communication options inโ areas without cellular or โขWi-Fi access. the plannedโ enhancements aim to broaden the utility of thisโ technology, offering more thorough support for users โขin remote locationsโข and potentially โคimproving network coverage overall.
Gurmanโ reports Appleโค is workingโ towards enabling 5G NTN (Non-Terrestrial โคNetworks) support, which would allow iPhones to โconnect toโ satellites to boost cellular signal strength. Additionally, the company is exploring integrating satellite connectivity into Appleโข Maps for navigation assistance โwhere customary signals are unavailable.
Beyond functionality, Appleโ is also focusedโข on improving the user experience. Current satellite connectivity requires users to โคpoint their iPhones directly atโข the sky. Apple is reportedly developing โคtechnology to โmaintain a connection even โwithout โฃa clear view of theโฃ sky,โ potentially enabling โindoor satellite access. The โcompany โขis also creating โขan API toโ allow third-party developers to integrate โคsatellite connectivity into their apps.
Apple has previously taken โคaโ measured approach โtoโค rolling out satellite โฃfeatures, waiting twoโ years between the introduction โคofโ Emergency SOS via Satellite and Messages via Satellite. A timeline for the release of these new features remains unknown.