Apple SOS emergency call: iPhone satellites also thanks to Elon Musk?

Apple and Elon Musk – This has not been an easy topic for years. Regardless of whether it was Tesla employee theft, anger over an App Store commission, or the question of whether to remove Twitter (now X) from the iPhone, the potential for conflict was not small. But now Musk’s space company SpaceX can help Apple expand its own service: we’re talking about the company’s iPhone SOS emergency call, which can now also be used via satellite since the iPhone 14. Like the local portal NoLa.com Apple’s satellite network operator Globalstar has reportedly booked capacity on SpaceX flights.

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Apple added 250 million

A total of US$64 million is supposed to flow to SpaceX by 2025 – in the form of “regular payments in connection with rocket launches.” This is shown by the notification filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to the report, satellites should… Explicit support for Apple’s emergency calling function, which Globalstar provides for Apple’s iPhones. This feature allows iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max owners to access satellites to send messages when they are far from cell towers. On the one hand, this serves to get help, but also to inform friends, acquaintances or family of the current location.

Globalstar invests a lot of money in its fleet. In February last year, the satellites were purchased for approximately $330 million, and Apple itself provided a loan of approximately $250 million. And the collaboration with SpaceX is not new either: even before the collaboration between Globalstar and Apple became known, Globalstar Musk’s company as a space services provider user.

Globalstar acquires Qualcomm director

The satellite network operator recently appointed a new president: Paul Jacobs, a former Qualcomm director, will now run the business. Apple, in turn, has a love-hate relationship with Qualcomm: the company has been sued by a mobile chip specialist, but still relies on it to supply 5G chips. Apple is currently setting up its own production here, but it could take years.

Apple currently supports Emergency SOS via satellite for customers in the US, Canada, Germany, France, the UK, and Ireland, as well as Australia, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Austria, and Portugal. the Satellite connection According to the company, it may not work in locations above 62 degrees latitude, e.g. B. In the northern regions of Canada or Alaska.

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(Bachelor’s)