Apple continues to invest in satellite communication, which allows you to send text messages or SOS messages from your iPhone when the user is in a white zone. As a reminder, the Cupertino company does not have its own constellation, unlike Starlink.
But to provide its satellite services on iPhone, it has partnered with the company Globalstar. And this year, this collaboration takes on a new dimension.
As a CNBC article reports, the Globalstar company revealed, via a document presented to the SEC, the stock market watchdog in the United States, that Apple had taken a 20% stake in its capital. The investment is 400 million dollars. But that’s not all, since the document also reveals a prepayment of $1.1 billion paid to Globalstar for its infrastructure. The document notably mentions a new constellation of satellites, as well as an expansion of Globalstar’s terrestrial infrastructure.
Apple and Starlink in competition?
As a reminder, Apple began offering satellite communication in 2022, on its iPhone 14 models. At the time, this service only allowed SOS messages to be sent for emergencies, when the user does not have access to mobile networks or Wi-Fi. This year, the firm extended this service, also allowing its users to exchange text messages via satellites, outside of emergencies.
Currently, these satellite text messages are free, but are still only available in the United States and Canada. Apple has already indicated that this service will be offered in other countrieslater. And it is possible that recent investments will allow Globalstar to improve its infrastructure, to offer a global service.
In any case, with this satellite texting service, Apple is in direct competition with Starlink’s future mobile service. As a reminder, SpaceX is in the process of deploying new satellites which act as 4G towers in space and which will allow text messages to be exchanged on 4G devices in white zones. Next year, this new service from Starlink, which is offered in collaboration with operators, will also support calls and mobile data.
- Since 2022, Apple has offered a satellite communication service on iPhone 14 and newer models
- This service is offered via Globalstar satellites
- Apple recently invested $400 million to acquire a stake in Globalstar (20% stake) and made a prepayment of $1.1 billion so that this company could strengthen its infrastructure
- Since this year, Apple’s satellite service has made it possible to exchange text messages outside of emergencies, but this functionality is still only offered in the United States and Canada.
- However, Apple has already indicated that satellite texting will be offered in other countries, later
