GoKawiilApple’s satellite partner, GlobalStar, was acquired by Amazon this week. But now Apple and Amazon are working together, and rumors indicate there are four new satellite features coming to iPhone soon.
#1: 5G over satellite
Current satellite connectivity in the iPhone works very slowly. But that’s set to change soon, at least with the iPhone 18 lineup.
Reporting indicates Apple’s C2 modem coming in the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra this fall will add support for 5G over satellite.
The ability to offer faster connection speeds over satellite should make satellite features much more convenient than they currently are. On the note of convenience, Apple is also working to make achieving a satellite connection less cumbersome than it is now.
#2: Apple Maps support
Apple Maps lets you download maps for offline use, but otherwise it only works when connected via Wi-Fi or cellular.
But according to Bloomberg, Apple is working to make Maps available over satellite too.
It’s unclear if this will require the new 5G capabilities of the C2 modem in iPhone 18 Pro, but that’s certainly possible.
#3: Photos in Messages app
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