Apple introduced emergency satellite connectivity to its iPhone 14 models last fall, and it’s clear that Android devices aren’t far behind. Today, CES Qualcomm announced Snapdragon Satellite, a two-way satellite messaging service available for “next generation premium Android smartphones.”
This is made possible through a partnership with Iridium, which operates a constellation of 66 powerful low-Earth orbit satellites. One of its main competitors is Apple’s service his partner Globalstar.
Snapdragon Satellite supports emergency two-way messaging, SMS text messaging, and “other messaging applications”. Qualcomm specifically states that it covers not only emergencies, but also “recreation in remote, rural, and offshore locations.”
Supported from devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. According to Qualcomm, Snapdragon Satellite’s emergency message is “expected to be available on next-generation smartphones launching in select regions from late 2023.”
Snapdragon Satellite can be extended to other devices such as laptops, tablets, cars, and IoT products. OEMs and app developers can take advantage of satellite connectivity to offer their own branded services. Snapdragon Satellite will support 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) as they become available.
Garmin will work with Qualcomm to provide “emergency message support.” Brad Trenkle, vice president of Garmin’s outdoor segment, said: We look forward to working with , Qualcomm Technologies and Iridium to help people connect to emergency services wherever they are. “
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