Android 14: new function to send your SMS by satellite?
The final version of Android 14 arrives in September, bringing with it a number of minor changes and technical optimizations. However, some major additions seem to be confirmed, such as the possibility of sending SMS from areas cut off from any network, via satellite.
How does satellite texting work?
SMS Satellite is the new flagship feature of Google’s operating system. After Apple and SpaceX, the Californian company is therefore following the movement by opening up the possibility of calls and SMS by satellite. To put it simply, this means that your smartphone will be able to communicate from anywhere on the globe.
To do this, only the sending smartphone must be compatible with this technology. It sends the message or call to a nearby relay antenna, which communicates with a satellite. This then relays the communication to a station close to the recipient, even if his cell phone is not equipped with satellite technology.
Qualcomm prepares the reception
To communicate with a satellite, a specific technology must be present in your smartphone. So, Qualcomm, a company specializing in mobile technologies, manufacturer of Snapdragon chips, announced that it was working with Iridium on the development of Snapdragon Satellite.
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Satellite will let Android phones text off the grid https://t.co/kxAnSaA4Yx pic.twitter.com/na72WkGTqc
— Engadget (@engadget) January 5, 2023
Initially developed for emergency calls, the chip, a variant of the Snapdragon 8 Gen2, should therefore support the functionality of Android 14. Other manufacturers, such as Samsung, have also announced the launch of their adapted solutions.
Which devices will be compatible?
Well, now that we know more about the SMS Satellite functionality, the logical question is: how to access it? First, you must have a smartphone eligible for the Android 14 update. Second, devices already on the market will not be able to benefit from the necessary hardware update for satellite communication technology.
It will then be necessary to turn to a new and, undoubtedly, high-end smartphone. Manufacturers seem to be moving towards a premium format for this feature. However, like all technologies, we can hope to see it democratize over the next few months.
