issued Apple A unique upgrade for iPhone that allows text messages to be sent via satellite without a Wi-Fi signal or mobile network. According to “The Sun” website.
Apple stated on its official website that this feature will be available on iPhone 14 and later devices and with the iOS 18 operating system, which allows sending text messages to friends and family via satellite when they are outside the range of cell phone and Wi-Fi network coverage. The company noted that this feature is currently only available in the United States and Canada.
How does satellite messaging work?
Apple has offered emergency SOS via satellite for several years and this is key to this feature. Using the SOS satellite service, it is possible to connect to a satellite to contact emergency services.
Now Apple will allow sending regular text messages to friends and family using the same system. Which will activate automatically when you try to send text messages and you don't have any Wi-Fi or cell network signal.
Apple explained that satellite messaging automatically prompts you to contact the nearest satellite so you can send and receive text messages and emojis via iMessage and SMS. It should be noted that the text messages you send via satellite using iMessage are end-to-end encrypted.
How to use satellite messaging service?
“We do not support sending messages to groups and sharing photos or videos via satellite, and the number of characters in text messages may be limited,” Apple said. To use this feature you need to do the following:
Turn on iMessage in settings. Make sure that the person you are trying to message has updated iOS to the latest version and is in your contacts. Make sure you have recently sent or received an iMessage (in the last month or so) in the chat with the person you are trying to message via satellite.
You'll need to turn on the “Send as text” feature in Settings, then Apps, then Messages if you want to use SMS via satellite. Go to your iPhone's Messages app, and if you don't have a Wi-Fi or cellular signal, a notification will automatically appear asking you to use the Satellite Messages feature.
To use this service you will need to be outside with a clear view of the sky. Apple stated in a note that “if you are under dense foliage or surrounded by other obstacles, you may not be able to connect to the satellite.”
Keep in mind that sending a message via satellite may take a few minutes, and the person who received your text messages will see that it was sent via satellite.
Who can use this service?
Unfortunately, there are some challenges with this service, as it requires the latest version of the iOS 18 operating system. It only works on iPhone 14 and later.
The other problem is that the satellite messaging service is limited only to US and Canadian users. But the emergency SOS service is available in the UK, so Britons are likely to receive satellite messages in the coming days.