iPhone 13 will get satellite communications in just a few markets

Apple could include satellite communications support in the "iPhone 13" after all, with a report claiming units sold in some select markets will gain the functionality.

A note to investors by famed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on August 29 claimed that Apple was introducing support for satellite communications in the "iPhone 13," using a customized baseband chip. While other analysts were quick to doubt the claims, one Sunday report seems to support the rumor.

According to Bloomberg's "Power On" newsletter, Mark Gurman claims satellite communications will be included, but only for handsets "in select markets." The feature is one that will only work as an emergency measure, both in specific markets and only if there isn't any cellular coverage.

Gurman insists that the feature won't enable satellite calls to be made anywhere without using cellular access, as that would "cause a revolt from the phone carriers that Apple relies on."

While not an immediately available service, Apple is apparently keen on enabling more satellite communications in the future, envisioning "deploying its own array of satellites to beam data to devices." However, that plan "is likely years away from taking off."

34 Comments

cornchip 1943 comments · 11 Years

About 3 years ago

Pretty badass if true. F the carriers.

David H Dennis 68 comments · 9 Years

I wonder how this will work, since all the satellite services I know of require a dish — which is certainly not portable equipment.

Also I wonder how much this service would cost, and whether it’s a first step to introducing an Apple cell carrier, which I would think would be an almost guaranteed success if service isn’t awful.

Certainly Apple’s level of customer loyalty is far, far higher than Verizon’s will ever be.

tommikele 599 comments · 12 Years

Not exactly true. Read the fine print.

cornchip said:

Pretty badass if true. F the carriers.

There will not be phone call and text service and the availability is extremely limited. And no, Apple will not "F" the carriers. If they did that, they would be screwed before you could power on your new phone. Plus, do you have any idea what that would do to the cost of service? Obviously not.

It would not be surprising if Apple's strategy and longer term plan includes building out their on network, but selling satellite service as an everyday affair is not on the table for quite some time.

mobird 758 comments · 20 Years

Has no one seen a movie where some character is in some extreme remote location and brings out the "Sat" phone? A "Sat" phone is approximately the size of a brick (literally) and has about a 10" external antenna. The iPhone may have the required transmit / receive power but the antenna system maybe a problem...