Kuo: iPhone 13 will have satellite communications

Apple analyst Kuo-Ming Chi reported that the iPhone 13 will have satellite communications.

Apple Analyst Kuo-Ming Chi today reported that the iPhone 13 will have the ability to use satellite communications thanks to a customized baseband chip (The Qualcomm X60 baseband Chip) to use Globalstar’s satellite communication service on the iPhone 13.

Apparently, this is not clear if Apple will support satellite communications and unclear what Apple will need to implement for an antenna array that is required for the technology. Kuo also believes that this is just Apple’s first time to obtain the technology. He has also said that the iPhone 13 with the technology can be integrated with newer products.

Then a report by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg said that the satellite communication tool is codenamed Stewie inside Apple. This will restrict messages to a shorter length, and texts will automatically push through to an emergency contact’s phone, despite dnd (do not disturb) on. There was this planned design where it will let a user send a message by typing Emergency SOS (similar to calling 911). The service may be able to handle some phone calls too.