If you’re the sort to learn into Apple Event taglines, subsequent week’s “Far Out” occasion actually feels… space-y. It’s led Apple prognosticators to revive theories that Apple could also be engaged on satellite tv for pc options for emergency communications — each for the iPhone and maybe the rumored Apple Watch Pro. Since the Apple Watch Pro is supposed to be a Garmin competitor, satellite tv for pc options may make it an actual contender within the multisport GPS watch area.

There’s lots that Apple must do in an effort to actually compete on this area. Multiday battery life and beefing up sturdiness are numbers 1 and a pair of on the listing. The competitors — Garmin, Polar, Coros — can run laps across the Apple Watch in these two areas. But if there’s one space the place Apple already has the lead, it’s emergency calling options and fall detection.

Reliable emergency communication is necessary and doubtlessly life-saving to intrepid adventurers. GPS and LTE connectivity have improved over time, however there are nonetheless many distant areas the place you may’t get a sign. Even skilled hikers, campers, and endurance athletes can get misplaced below these circumstances or discover themselves in a bind in the event that they get injured in a mobile lifeless zone. That’s why many carry satellite tv for pc telephones or Garmin’s inReach devices, that are handheld two-way satellite tv for pc communicators that even have location-sharing options. These gadgets, nonetheless, could be cumbersome and add weight when athletes virtually all the time favor to stay gentle and nimble.

Right now, the issue is Apple’s emergency contact options rely on LTE connectivity. That makes it extra dependable in on a regular basis conditions than for outdoor fans. Likewise, Garmin has fall detection and emergency contact options on lots of its smartwatches — however in addition they depend on your telephone for sign or need to be paired with an inReach device.

At the second, some high-end multisport watches do have satellite tv for pc options. The factor is, they’re extra centered on enhancing location accuracy than emergency communication. Watches just like the Garmin Fenix 7 and the Coros Vertix 2 use dual-frequency satellite communication or multi-band GPS. GPS initially had two frequencies: L1 for public use and L2 for army functions. However, there’s a more recent frequency known as L5. It’s not at 100% simply but, however watches that help dual-frequency satellite tv for pc communication boast improved location accuracy in difficult environments. They simply can’t but relay that info except your telephone additionally has a sign.

A smartwatch that would have each LTE and satellite tv for pc connectivity for emergency communications and placement sharing? It’s not arduous to see why that will enchantment to outdoor fans.

Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear seemingly that the primary iteration of the Apple Watch Pro will get satellite tv for pc options. In his most up-to-date Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman famous that whereas Apple had internally mentioned including satellite tv for pc options to the Apple Watches, it might “make sense for a future version of the new more rugged Apple Watch Pro.”

That’s a smidge disappointing, although not wholly sudden. Even if Apple is able to creating {hardware} that may help satellite tv for pc connectivity, it nonetheless has to play ball with wi-fi carriers. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the characteristic was completed for the iPhone 13, however Apple couldn’t work out the enterprise finish of constructing it a actuality.

Still, it’s a tantalizing prospect on condition that Apple nonetheless has to play catch-up on the multiday battery life and sturdiness entrance. Of course, it additionally relies on the so-called Pro doing properly sufficient to get a second or third iteration. But if Apple could make it work? Now that would trigger a stir.