Qualcomm to Roll Out Satellite Connectivity for Android Devices Later This Year

Qualcomm is working with Iridium, a satellite tv for pc community supplier, to carry satellite tv for pc connectivity to future Android units. The expertise is simply able to two-way messaging. However, Qualcomm additionally has Garmin’s Response service on board for emergencies because it already makes use of Iridium’s satellite tv for pc community.

Unlike Apple’s Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc, Qualcomm’s is just not absolutely baked. The firm took us out to the center of the Nevada desert to see the motion, nevertheless it was solely by way of non-descript check units—I wasn’t even capable of go hands-on with the flexibility like I did once I examined Apple’s final 12 months. Regardless, the announcement is nice information for the Android platform, which doesn’t presently provide any satellite tv for pc connectivity, not even in case of emergency.

Snapdragon Satellite guarantees to supply “truly global coverage” from “pole to pole” as Iridium’s satellites already function globally. Smartphones can join anyplace there’s an Iridium-branded satellite tv for pc, offered the native jurisdiction permits it. Iridium makes use of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, and the corporate says there are about 66 satellites presently accessible, with at the least 9 on standby to function backup.

The messaging capabilities of Snapdragon Satellite are fundamental. You’ll be capable of ship a most of 140 characters to textual content out by way of SMS, or one other supported Over-the-Top (OTT) messaging app, like WhatsApp. Qualcomm confirmed us what the Snapdragon Satellite app would appear to be with choices for contacting emergency companies or sending a message to a whitelist of contacts. But finally, the onboarding can be dealt with by the Android OEMs that plan to implement the function. It may look completely different on a Samsung system versus a OnePlus system since each corporations use a customized Android pores and skin.

However, the emergency performance ought to stay the identical throughout the board. If you attempt to dial 9-1-1 and there’s no mobile connection, the Snapdragon Satellite app will immediate you on find out how to get assist. Again, Qualcomm couldn’t show how Garmin would deal with the emergency response. But it appears it can work equally to how iOS handles routing for Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc.

Smartphones geared up with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 would be the first accessible telephones to work with Snapdragon Satellite, although they’ll need to be geared up with the requisite RF bands. Iridium depends on a specific L- band spectrum for uplink and downlink—between 1600 and 1626.5 MHz. It’s unlikely that merchandise popping out within the first half of the 12 months may have the potential, stated Qualcomm’s Francesco Gatta, Senior Director Of Technology. “We just announced this partnership. There are already multiple OEMs working on devices, which should become available in the second half of the year.”

Eventually, Qualcomm hopes Snapdragon Satellite will make it into different related units, like automobiles and IoT. But for now, the corporate is targeted on bringing it to Android first. Satellite connectivity is sort of the buzzword since Apple went full-fledged with its talents. And though Apple’s is a little more restricted in scope because it depends on its name facilities for emergency routing, it’s at the least reside and able to use for iPhone 14 customers and past.

Snapdragon Satellite received’t be accessible on Google’s Pixel smartphones. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 use Google’s in-house Tensor chip, so it can rely solely on whether or not the corporate contains it within the subsequent era processor. However, there have been stories that the subsequent model of Android 14 would assist satellite tv for pc connectivity, which bodes nicely for Snapdragon Satellite launching later this 12 months. But whether or not Google will provide an identical resolution for Pixel wielders stays to be seen.