Apple Reportedly Plans Ambitious Satellite-powered Iphone Features

In Brief

While Apple’s iPhone already supports texting, calling emergency services, and contacting roadside assistance via outer connectivity, nan institution has galore much satellite-powered features successful nan works, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

In-development features reportedly see an API allowing app makers to support outer connections successful their ain apps, a type of Apple Maps that allows users to navigate without a compartment aliases WiFi connection, adding photos to messaging, and accrued support for “natural usage,” allowing users to link to a outer moreover if their telephone isn’t pointed straight astatine nan sky.

All of these features would perchance summation nan usability of iPhones erstwhile their owners are extracurricular nan scope of accepted compartment networks. Another imaginable upgrade, first reported by The Information, could amended 5G networks by allowing them to link to satellites for accrued coverage.

The basal features would beryllium free, Gurman says, pinch customers paying carriers for much precocious support. In addition, Apple’s outer partner Globalstar reportedly needs to amended its infrastructure to support these upgrades, which Apple is helping to finance.

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