What you need to know
- Samsung has announced its own challenger to satellite connectivity for Apple’s smartphones.
- This new modem technology promises to set itself apart from Apple’s products by supporting two-way text messaging and photo and video sharing.
- Samsung plans to incorporate the satellite connection system into future Exynos modems.
After Apple announced satellite connectivity support in the iPhone 14 series, a handful of companies, including Qualcomm, rushed to bring similar technology to Android phones. Latest Android OEM introduced.
South Korean tech giant announced (opens in new tab) Future Exynos modems will support two-way text messaging and will also be able to share high-definition images and videos via satellite. Samsung has demonstrated the concept with his Exynos Modem 5300 modem, which is also found in Google’s Pixel 7 series.
Samsung’s proprietary satellite-based smartphone communications use satellites and other non-terrestrial vehicles to send connections to remote areas such as mountains, deserts, and oceans where traditional solutions are limited, enabling Apple’s emergency SOS. We aim to exceed Meanwhile, his Apple satellite connection on the iPhone 14 series is limited to sending text messages.
The company says it has acquired standardized 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN) modem technology to enable direct communication between smartphones and satellites in remote areas.
Samsung’s latest flagship phones, the Galaxy S23 series, do not support satellite connectivity. That said, Samsung’s latest and greatest phones have hardware to support Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon satellite solution. The semiconductor giant has partnered with his satellite network provider his Iridium to bring satellite connectivity to his future Android smartphones, but the technology is still in its infancy and can only support two-way messaging.
In addition to smartphone communications, Samsung envisions satellite connectivity solutions to support disaster relief efforts and power unmanned aerial vehicles and flying cars in the future.
Samsung didn’t say when the solution would be available to the public or which phones it would feature. Either way, satellite connectivity seems to be the next big thing in smartphone communications.
