Rumors of the iPhone 13 getting satellite connectivity began to spread last year. Although this iPhone doesn’t get the feature, rumor has it that the upcoming iPhone 14 could use it in emergencies, or send short texts to emergency contacts when out of range of cellular service.
Now, according to a new report BloombergThe next-generation Apple Watch may also feature this additional technology, according to Mark Gurman of the company.
in his Open In the newsletter, the reporter stated that “the Apple Watch is destined to get the feature as well,” although Gurman thinks Apple’s timeline could be this year or 2023.
Whether on the iPhone or Apple Watch, the technology will provide an alternative to Garmin’s inReach Explorer and SPOT, a handheld satellite communicator with similar capabilities.
There have been recent signs that Apple and its apparent satellite partner Globalstar Inc. may be getting closer to launching such a feature. In February, Globalstar said it had reached an agreement to buy 17 new satellites to help provide “continuous satellite service” to a “potential” and unnamed customer, who has paid it hundreds of millions of dollars.
Now that there are rumors that Apple could launch three new Apple Watches this year — a regular model, a new SE, and a brand new Watch for extreme sports — at least a regular and rugged Apple Watch makes sense. Watch both get this feature.
Gurman had already cast doubt on the iPhone 13’s satellite communications capabilities last year, saying the new phone’s hardware wasn’t ready. Now, even if the feature rolls out this year, it may be limited to key markets. Here’s what he wrote in August 2021:
Emergency features are only available in areas without any cellular coverage, and only in select markets. Apple envisions eventually deploying its own array of satellites to transmit data to devices, but that plan could be years away from taking off.
Do you think this could be the next big thing for the Apple Watch? You can read our full roundup of what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 8 here. Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
FTC: We use car affiliate links to earn revenue. more.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
