In a tweet Thursday morning, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s senior vice president of platforms and ecosystems, revealed that the company will fully support partners in implementing related features.

"When it comes to the user experience of a phone that can connect to satellites, it takes me back to the Google G1, which was launched in 2008. 

It was a lot of work to get 3G and Wi-Fi to work, but now the industry is embracing cool satellite connectivity designs.

We're excited to support our partners and implement all of these features in the next big update to Android."

In addition, the satellite connectivity experience for cell phones will be different from 4G LTE / 5G solutions. In last week’s Space Explored announcement, SpaceX said.

"Starlink V2 provides 2~4 Mbps connectivity for areas lacking cellular coverage from wireless carriers, based on a portion of T-Mobile's mid-band PCS spectrum.

In addition, depending on the length of the message, the satellite bandwidth can support 1 to 2 k of voice / hundreds of thousands of SMS / even some messaging applications concurrently.

However, operators also mentioned that this matter requires intensive cooperation with partners to ensure that messaging is separated from other data traffic."

Finally, Google has not yet started work on introducing satellite connectivity support for Android 14, but we expect that it will see more detailed planning in a few months.

The post Google may introduce support for satellite connectivity through the Android 14 major update appeared first on TechGoing.

Along with Apple and Huawei, Google seems to be making a push for satellite connectivity. In a tweet yesterday, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Google’s senior vice president of platforms and ecosystems, said that getting 3G+WiFi to work properly was a very difficult task when the first Android phone, the HTC G1, was released in 2008. Now, Google has started working on getting the phone to connect with satellites, and Google will offer the feature in the next version of Android.

According to 9To5Google, Google has confirmed that the next version of Android will be Android 14, which means that Google is likely to introduce support for satellite connectivity through the Android 14 major update.

Currently, the Google Android Beta Program page has been updated and Google said, “Android 13 QPR beta update will last until March 2023, followed by Android 14 beta.” This means that the Android 14 Developer Preview could launch in March next year.

The satellite communication function is mainly a supplement to the terrestrial cellular communication system, and its main applications are in remote areas where fiber optics and base stations are not conveniently deployed, ocean and sky scenarios, and emergency disaster relief scenarios.

The post Google confirms: support for satellite connectivity in Android 14 appeared first on TechGoing.

For more than a year, there have been rumors that Apple was looking into bringing satellite capabilities to the iPhone, and now word is that it’s likely to appear on the new iPhone 14 series. In addition to helping iPhone users report emergencies in areas without cellular service, sources now say Apple is also considering supporting satellite connectivity on Apple Watch Pro devices.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in its Power On newsletter says that the next generation of the rugged Apple Watch Pro could feature satellite connectivity.

"The company has also discussed internally the idea of offering satellite capabilities for its watches, which could make sense for future versions of the next generation of the more rugged Apple Watch Pro."

In today’s newsletter, Gurman discusses the importance of adding satellite connectivity to the iPhone.

"This is a step up from the current iPhone and Apple Watch capabilities to quickly call emergency services and provide them with a location. The prospect of having an iPhone to get first aid without a cellular connection is just the beginning of Apple's planning. Eventually, users will have access to the global Internet and be able to make regular phone calls via satellite links. The combination of fast 5G networks and satellite services could one day turn iPhone into the most powerful global communications device available."

While the rumored first-generation Apple Watch Pro is not expected to support satellite connectivity, the watch will also bring the usual high-end feature upgrades.

The Apple Watch Pro will reportedly be visually distinct from the newly designed Apple Watch Series 8, although rumors differ on whether it will have flat edges, and Gurman talks about the “evolution of the current rectangular shape.

One of the main changes to the Apple Watch Pro will be the materials used to make it. Currently, the Apple Watch is available in aluminum, stainless steel and titanium. The Apple Watch Pro will reportedly feature a “more durable titanium formula” as Apple works to make it as strong as possible.

In addition to the larger 1.99-inch display design, the Apple Watch Pro also reportedly has longer battery life. Longer battery life will be a key factor in the “durability” aspect of this “extreme sports model” of the Apple Watch.

Much like the Apple Watch Series 8, this new Apple Watch Pro is expected to add support for temperature measurement. While the Apple Watch cannot accurately measure body temperature, it will send an alert when it detects a rise in body temperature. Users can then use a traditional thermometer to accurately measure their temperature.

The post Gurman: Apple Watch Pro future edition may feature Satellite Connectivity appeared first on TechGoing.