The tech company is pledging more money for Globalstar’s network of satellites, which power Emergency SOS and messaging.
The tech company is pledging more money for Globalstar’s network of satellites, which power Emergency SOS and messaging.
Apple has committed to investing about $1.5 billion in Globalstar, the company whose network of satellites provide communications services to owners of the latest iPhones.
Apple wants more services and capabilities from Globalstar, which will extend its lead as one of only two providers of satellite services to phone users. Google partnered with Skylo to offer emergency satellite messages to Pixel 9 series owners back in August. Other efforts in the phones industry to offer satellite services have foundered, and carriers haven’t progressed beyond successfully testing messaging through partner satellite networks.
Currently, owners of the iPhone 14, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models can, when outside their mobile networks, use Globalstar’s satellites to reach emergency services through Emergency SOS. Recently, Apple extended this to include text messages.
