Google is expected to bring emergency satellite connectivity to the upcoming Pixel 9 series, and Android Authority ekibi came across some interesting updates about the satellite connectivity feature in the latest APK Teardown post.
The trend of satellite connectivity on smartphones started when Apple introduced this feature on the iPhone 14 series. Google joined this trend a little late, but with the Android 15 update released for the Pixel 9, it added support for satellite communication, allowing apps to recognize when a device is connected to a satellite. However, smartphone manufacturers need to have built-in support and collaborate with satellite operators to offer this service.
Some lines of code have been detected in the latest Android 15 Beta 4 update that reference the satellite connection feature. Some changes made to the lines of code reveal that Google may call the satellite connection for Pixel 9 devices Pixel Satellite SOS. In particular, it is stated that this feature will be offered for free for the first two years on Pixel devices.
- When you connect to emergency services via satellite, your name, email, phone number, location, device information (IMEI, language, model, battery level) and emergency contact information are shared with emergency services and satellite service providers.
- To use the Satellite SOS feature, Google Messages must be your default SMS app.
- Satellite SOS feature is included free for {two} years.
It’s important to note that the “{two}” here could be a placeholder term used in lines of code that reference satellite connectivity. However, Apple also offers free emergency satellite connectivity for iPhones for two years after activating the iPhone 14 or 15 series. So if Google were to offer satellite connectivity for the same period for devices like the Pixel 9, it could help the company stay competitive with its competitors.
The lines of code suggest that the Pixel phone will be updated to support satellite communications. The Pixel 9 series is expected to launch on August 13, and the phrase “updated” could mean that older devices will also support the feature in the future. However, satellite connectivity requires some specific hardware, and older Pixel phones don’t have the hardware to support it.
Source: www.technopat.net
