T-Mobile, Verizon and AT&T are all planning to shift to satellite-based services, while Apple already offered a while back. Now, Apple is outranking wireless operators satellite based services and will incorporate something else that will outrun all of its efforts.
By the end of this year, Apple will discontinue the satellite emergency services and shift back to regular services. Launched in 2022, Apple’s satellite messaging service has been groundbreaking and is being used in various emergencies, like directing lost hikers in the right direction. This update is expected around the release of iOS 18 software. With the software release, a portion of around 375 million iPhone users will have immediate access to casual, non-emergency satellite messaging services.
Apple’s satellite vendor, Globalstar, is planning to enlarge its satellite functionality by launching 26 satellites. According to a source, this satellite company can grow its satellite constellation to 3,080 satellites in the upcoming years. Apple is also rumored to be expanding its satellite ambitions beyond messaging services.
Neither AT&T, Verizon, nor T-Mobile aren’t sitting idle. T-Mobile’s satellite messaging service is ready to be released around the same time as the iOS release. However, they have not specified what their satellite service is offering. In the meantime, AT&T and Verizon won’t be launching their satellite-based any time before next year. But none of the companies have announced any firm launch date.
