Apple has partnered with Globalstar to support an emergency feature in the new iPhone 14 series that will allow users to send messages from locations that may not get cellular coverage. The Cupertino company has revealed that it will allocate $450 million (about Rs 4,000 crore) from its Advanced Manufacturing Fund to support this new facility. Globalstar will reportedly receive most of the amount from the fund. However, Apple has not disclosed the other companies that will receive the remaining portion of the funding.
Apple has contracted Globalstar to support emergency satellite service on the iPhone 14 series launching globally on Wednesday, according to Reuters.
Globalstar will reportedly receive around 95 per cent of the $450 million (approximately Rs 4,000 crore) fund. However, the company is reportedly planning to raise additional debt to build and deploy the satellites. It is reportedly in touch with Goldman Sachs and expects to receive additional funding by Q4 2022.
Globalstar manufactures Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites that operate 36 times closer to Earth than conventional communications satellites. This reportedly allows LEO satellites to deliver faster broadband speeds even in remote areas.
Apple reportedly announced that the satellite messaging feature would be enabled via an OTA update on the iPhone 14 in November – the handsets are already equipped with the necessary hardware. Satellite services will begin in the United States and Canada, and then gradually roll out to other markets over the coming months. Apple announced that iPhone 14 users will get these services for free for the first two years, but has not yet disclosed the cost of the service.
