The satellite connection is designed for communications in areas where there is no coverage , especially those where you cannot communicate with 4G, 5G or WiFi.
Most mobile phones that work via satellite do so in dual mode, satellite and GSM, to be able to make calls via satellite when necessary and with conventional terrestrial mobile phone systems in areas where there is coverage.
Although satellite calls have been with us for a long time, to be able to connect to them requires a fairly large antenna that will not fit in your pocket. This is the reason why you will not find many mobiles that make these types of calls.
There are satellite phones, yes, but we can see them in rescue teams or deep-sea ships or the like and their prices are very expensive. Not to mention that they are very cumbersome and are not to be taken from one place to another like a mobile for day to day.
The iPhone 14 allow calls via satellite
After a long time speculating about it, satellite calls have reached the new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Although, and here comes the not so good news, it does so through a new emergency call service, which is not designed to be used daily but rather on very specific and urgent occasions.
This is Emergency SOS , its new satellite emergency service that allows a direct connection between the iPhone and a satellite that orbits the Earth continuously.
Although it has certain limits, because to connect without an antenna it is necessary to be under the open sky or with a direct line with the satellite to have the best conditions to contact it. The Emergency SOS app scans, tells you where the satellite is and what to do to connect with it.
In addition, it facilitates emergencies with a large number of functions that will help you notify, even if you have been injured and cannot type. The message you send in an emergency situation will take between 15 seconds and a minute to arrive.
Although a message is sent, and to notify certain emergency services it is necessary to call, the company has a call center that makes automatic calls to convey alert messages .
Apple has worked so that the radiofrequency components and the software developed by them can enable the functionality of the satellite, although for now this is the only practical use that it offers and with certain limitations.
However, for now, the new iPhones are the only phones that have the function of satellite calls , initially it will reach the United States and Canada, although it will not take long to reach other countries such as Spain. Likewise, it is to be expected that they will work on improving them and other brands will join the adventure.
Huawei and Android are already at it
Although you have surely heard that Huawei Mate 50 will offer satellite communication and that it is not only for emergencies, the reality is that you can send messages and use navigation services thanks to Beidu satellites, but not make calls. In addition, beyond the Chinese borders and with what this technology implies, it would become very expensive and not very accessible.
Recently, Google has announced that it is working to offer satellite connections on devices running its operating system, probably Android 14 , although there is no concrete information on what they will actually offer at that time.
For now, we have to wait for technology to advance and for companies to continue working to offer us more accessible and efficient satellite connections.
Other lesser known mobiles
We have already said before that there are other telephones and mobiles that allow satellite calls , although they can be used for other purposes such as mountain expeditions and do not have the advantages of smartphones.
For this reason, it is worth mentioning the main mobile phones that, although they will not be your favorites if what you are looking for is a smartphone for your day to day, it can be an option if you have other intentions and do not mind buying it and paying a monthly, annual fee or for the call, something that is not exactly cheap.
The main satellite mobile models that are used for this are Iridium 9555, Iridium 9575, BlueCosmo Iridium Extreme, BlueCosmo Iridium WiFi, Iridium GO!, Inmarsat IsatPhone 2, Thuraya X5 Touch, Thuraya XT-LITE and Garmin inReach Explorer.