SpaceX Will Launch Glablestar Satellites for iPhone SOS Function
SpaceX Will Launch Glablestar Satellites for iPhone SOS Function
SpaceX Will Launch Glablestar Satellites for iPhone SOS Function.
Globalstar, the satellite partner of Apple Inc., is set to pay SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, to launch new satellites aimed at enhancing the communication network for the iPhone’s satellite emergency SOS feature.
According to details disclosed in documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Globalstar will be paying SpaceX $64 million.
The payment will be made between 2023 and 2025, coinciding with SpaceX’s satellite launch plans.
Last year, Apple introduced its satellite emergency SOS service alongside the release of the new iPhone 14 models. This technology enables iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max to contact emergency services without Wi-Fi or cellular connectivity.
Globalstar, Apple’s partner, is responsible for managing the satellites that make this feature possible. Apple announced during its launch event that the satellite emergency SOS feature would be free for two years, but the final cost of this feature has yet to be revealed.
The $64 million paid by Globalstar to SpaceX is likely just a fraction of the overall operational costs for the satellites, and these costs may ultimately be passed on to Apple. Consequently, Apple is expected to charge users a nominal fee for accessing the emergency SOS feature, which is a reasonable expectation.
Globalstar has agreed to allocate 85% of its current and future network capacity to Apple’s iPhones. Globalstar will provide and maintain all personnel, software, satellite systems, and ensure minimum quality and coverage standards. Before the launch of the iPhone 14 models, Globalstar purchased satellite equipment worth $327 million from a Canadian company, with Apple loaning $252 million to Globalstar.
The Emergency SOS via Satellite service is available in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal.
