Google’s Android 14 will support smartphone satellite connectivity. The new feature is expected to be available in the next software update, and is in response to the recent announcements from SpaceX and T-Mobile. Both companies have plans to connect smartphones directly to satellites, which means that users of those devices could potentially avoid cellular dead zones.
While it isn’t clear if Apple will offer this feature in the iPhone 14, it is widely believed that it will be a feature of future iPhones.
The inclusion of satellite connectivity would enable iPhone users to send and receive short messages without the need for cellular connectivity. According to reports, Apple may also announce satellite connectivity at a September event.
Apple is preparing to launch a new iPhone 14 line on September 7, 2022. Some reports suggest that the iPhone 14 series will have low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication connectivity.
This could allow users to make calls and send text messages from anywhere, even in remote areas. In addition to this, the Cupertino tech giant is expected to partner with the American communications company Globalstar, which has its own network of LEO satellites.
If the iPhone 14 does come with satellite connectivity, it will make sense for it to be compatible with all existing Android devices. The additional support for existing devices should improve the end-user experience.
SpaceX and T-Mobile have also recently announced plans to encourage other carriers to adopt “reciprocal roaming,” which will allow users to share spectrum between their network providers. Once this happens, Android is likely to provide native support for the feature as adoption grows.
