Based on foreign media Phone Arena and Telegram channel “Google News” news, in the latest p.2024.08 version of Google’s “Adaptive Connectivity Services” (Adaptive Connectivity Services), “Satellite Communications SOS” appeared “Function.
Note: “Adaptive Connection Service” is an exclusive app for Pixel series phones, which can be used to automatically detect and switch to 5G or 4G networks.
The satellite communication-related functions discovered this time are designed to use satellite communications to send emergency messages when the phone is in a state where cellular and Wi-Fi networks are unavailable. The feature is also reportedly available in the “Security & Emergency” submenu in Settings on some phones running the Android 14 operating system. The feature’s introduction page is accompanied by its detailed working principle, and users can also choose to experience or test it through demonstrations and real operations.
Users can customize emergency contacts and set up automatic alerts in emergency situations. Additionally, the page shows the satellite service’s partnership with GPS technology provider Garmin. It is reported that Garmin has network coverage in more than 150 countries and regions, indicating that satellite communication-related functions are expected to be provided globally.
According to Phone Arena’s analysis, satellite communication-related functions natively supported by Google have not yet been launched or officially announced. It is currently unclear whether this function will be “exclusively available” to Pixel series phones. Judging from the impact of launching such a new feature, Google may leave this feature to be announced at the next Google I/O or “Made by Google” event.
According to previous reports, developer Neïl Rahmouni shared a screenshot last August, showing that emergency SOS text messages and location information can be sent in the SMS (Google Messages) application on the Android 14 system. This Android 14 feature is not limited to Pixel phones. Any phone with hardware capabilities can achieve satellite communication, but it may initially be limited to Google’s own Pixel series and Samsung’s Galaxy series.
