Learn more about how these companies will merge. Learn about the rumors surrounding the two technology giants.
Are you familiar with Apple's SOS (or Help) feature? If you don't know about this important tool yet, we'll explain what it's for. Apple may now work with SpaceX, Elon Musk's company. Learn more about it in the text below.
A key feature introduced in the iPhone 14 series, Satellite Emergency SOS has proven to be extremely valuable and often plays a key role in life-saving situations. Stories have been heard of people using this feature to save a woman and her dog from a flood and call the fire department on a Canadian island.
Connection satellites
There’s a lot to talk about, and with the potential to soon expand the reach of satellite-based Emergency SOS, there’s likely to be a lot more to come. Globalstar is the Apple-backed satellite network operator that acquired SpaceX’s launch services in a deal worth $14T64 million, according to a regulatory filing (via TechCrunch). That money will be used to launch the first set of satellites that Globalstar ordered last year from MDA, one of the largest independent satellite subsystem suppliers.
The company has signed a $1.4T327 million contract with MDA for 17 new Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, which will enhance Globalstar’s current satellite constellation. Future launches of these satellites will help expand the carrier’s SOS emergency services.
Apple has agreed to reimburse Globalstar for 95% of the cost of the action taken, including manufacturing and deployment costs. The technology giant Apple Inc. also provided Globalstar with a $1.4 billion loan to cover startup costs. Under the deal, Apple will use 851 million of the new network’s capacity to enhance its satellite service, which launched with the iPhone 14 last year. The service will allow iPhones to connect to one of Globalstar’s 24 existing satellites and provide emergency assistance when cell towers are unavailable.
The satellite emergency SOS feature will also be coming to the upcoming iPhone 15 series, which is rumored to be announced next week.
Apple and SpaceX
The new agreement between Globalstar and SpaceX shows that SpaceX has significant influence in orbital launches. Given its near-monopoly position in the industry. The Elon Musk is also exploring the possibility of connecting directly to traditional phones through Starlink. For those who don’t know, that’s its broadband constellation, which operates in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
SpaceX is seeking U.S. regulatory approval to acquire additional spectrum for its potential Starlink mobile satellite service. This includes frequencies in the 1.6 GHz and 2.4 GHz spectrum bands used by Globalstar. If approved, SpaceX and Globalstar will be competing in this space, which will be very good for the market. That's because the more competition between the two companies, the more efforts they will have to create more advanced technologies.
