Apple plans to develop new satellite features for iPhone, including the use of offline maps, etc

The functions under development include offline maps, image transmission, and third-party access. On November 11th, according to Global Times, Apple is advancing a series of new satellite connectivity features aimed at enabling iPhones and some Apple Watches to complete more advanced tasks even in environments away from cellular networks.

Mark Gullman, a well-known technology journalist, also mentioned in Apple’s satellite Internet strategy for nearly 10 years recently disclosed that the iPhone launched next year will support 5G NTN (non terrestrial network) technology to further expand the user coverage base of this technology.

It is reported that Apple is developing a series of new satellite driven features for the iPhone, which will greatly expand its application scope, far beyond the existing emergency SMS and roadside assistance services.

Insiders revealed that the functions under development include offline maps, image transmission, and third-party access.

At present, when iPhone and Apple Watch users are in areas without network signal, the map navigation function often cannot be used properly, causing inconvenience to their travel. In the future, with the help of satellite connections, users can easily access map information even without ground networks, including in uninhabited areas.

Apple also provides application programming interfaces (APIs) for third-party applications that use satellite connectivity, which means that Apple allows developers to voluntarily integrate satellite connectivity into their applications and create more innovative applications for iPhone users..

For example, outdoor exploration applications can use satellite communication to achieve real-time location sharing and emergency assistance in remote areas without ground network coverage; Scientific research applications can utilize satellite data transmission to carry out field data collection and monitoring work. This will greatly enrich the application ecosystem of iPhone and provide users with more diversified service choices.

It should be noted that not all features and services are compatible with this API framework, and developers need to adjust and optimize according to specific situations during the integration process.

But it seems that Apple has no plans to use satellites for functions such as phone calls, video calls, or web browsing.

According to Mark Gurman, Apple began laying out its satellite business about 10 years ago and recruited two top satellite engineers from Google’s parent company Alphabet to explore the possibilities in this field.

In 2022, Apple launched the emergency SOS feature on the iPhone 14, allowing users without cellular signals to contact emergency rescue via satellite. In 2023, Apple will collaborate with third-party partners to launch satellite based road rescue services. In recent updates, the satellite SMS feature of iPhone is no longer limited to emergency situations. These features are still available for free to all users.

But according to reports, in the future, Apple plans to allow users to directly pay satellite operators to provide more advanced features. This measure may be a signal for Apple to further deepen its layout in the field of satellite communication. By introducing a payment model, Apple can establish closer cooperation with satellite operators, obtain more resources and technical support, and bring users richer and more powerful satellite functions.