The Taiwanese chipmaker is helping deliver satellite connectivity in the Motorola Defy 2 and the Cat S75 rugged smartphones, which will be shown at MWC next week.
MediaTek is the latest company to join the rush to bring satellite connectivity to smartphones.
At next week’s MWC in Barcelona, MediaTek plans on demoing a satellite connectivity system it first teased in November, which can offer two-way messaging on smartphones.
“The first smartphones with MediaTek’s satellite connectivity are also launching, with more devices to be unveiled in the coming month,” the company added.
The new devices include the Motorola Defy 2 and the Cat S75 rugged smartphones, which feature a satellite messaging platform from British company Bullitt. Lenovo is also introducing the Motorola Defy Satellite Link, a handheld Bluetooth device that can provide satellite messaging via Bullitt to any paired smartphone.
Through the devices, Bullitt plans on selling customers a $149 yearly subscription for up to 30 two-way, satellite-based messages per month, and access to an “SOS assist” emergency response center.
