Android 15 may support text messages via satellite with special hardware

Satellite communication is an area of ​​interest for cell phone manufacturers, including Apple e Huawei. However, one of the obstacles preventing the popularization of the service is a need for special hardware for the devices to be connected to stations in Earth's orbit. But, however, I can change with the launch of Android 15.

According to developer and journalist Mishaal Rahman, the first clues that Android supports communication via satellite can be found in Beta 2 for Android 14 QPR3. A page indicating that users can, in the future, use connection via satellite to send and receive messages when cellular network signal is not available.

The discovery page is specifically about configurations for satellite messages. The difference between existing services and the native operating system solution allow trocar messages with some contact, and not just with the emergency services — as they did not iPhone15 e Huawei Pocket 2For example.

When the cell phone does not have access to a mobile or Wi-Fi network, it will be “automatically connected to a satellite”, as explained on the remedy configuration page.

The information page on common resources for the use of satellite communication, such as availability limited to certain areas, is necessary for you to be empty to find stations on the orbit with the greatest sending length and receiving messages in comparison with the network. cellular. It will not be possible to make telephone connections via satellite.

Add the texts of the page if you do not reveal the satellite message provider via Android, the “Get satellite messages” or “Save more satellite messages” buttons open a web page about the satellite signal coverage of T-Mobile, which is currently unavailable.

The natural support for connections via satellite does not allow Android to allow any device running the operational system to connect to a satellite in Earth's orbit — even if there are no special mechanisms for the connection.

It's also possible for “Direct to Cell”, uh service created by the operator T-Mobile in collaboration with SpaceX, by Elon Musk. Recent tests mostraram that o Galaxy S21 Ultra — without natural support for connections via satellite — allows you to maintain high speed and greater latitude of connection with a station in Starlink orbit.

For this, SpaceX is launching new satellites of the Starlink constellation which can be communicated “directly with the cell phone”, or which allows them to work with devices with LTE connection. Make sure that “Direct to Cell” does not require any changes to the device’s hardware, firmware, or specific applications.

When you discovered a beta version of Android 14, you are waiting for a satellite communication reserved for a new version of Android 15, which could be officially revealed briefly at an upcoming Google conference.

Huge companies aren't turning out to be a plane offering satellite connection support on Android, although Google has recently invested in low-orbit satellite providers, or might suggest doing so. availability of different type communication services in the future.