Apple Expands Satellite Messaging Capabilities With iOS 18

On June 10, Apple announced that the iOS 18 public beta, which should be slightly more refined, is set to roll out some time in July. The stable release of iOS 18, however, is not expected to debut until September.

Great point. I will continue to follow this. When the stable release of iOS 18 becomes available, I will consider buying a used Apple iPhone 14 that has a physical SIM card slot. So, that probably means an eBay seller in Canada.

However, SpaceX said T-Mobile's direct-to-cell service is launching commercially this fall, too. I have time to think about this. Maybe I will add a T-Mobile SIM to my current smartphone or maybe I will buy a second hand Apple iPhone.

Then we have AST partnering with AT&T and Verizon, so maybe they will be a bit closer by fall, too.

Looking forward to trying this.

I haven't seen anything yet on whether there will be fees associated with satellite usage.

I'm frequently in areas with no cellular coverage. If there are no unreasonable charges, I will consider getting a newer Apple smartphone and cancelling my Garmin Inreach subscription.

"Message via satellite is a free feature, at least for now. Apple currently includes Emergency SOS via satellite free for two years. Beyond that, Apple hasn't shared how much it will cost or if there will actually ever be a charge to access the feature. Messages via satellite will be available this fall with iOS 18 and will roll out initially in the US before expanding to more countries. 'With just a software update, we're going be able to make this broadly available to tons of people overnight,' remarked [Kurt] Knight[, Apple's senior director of platform product marketing]."

quote from: https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/i-saw-iphones-most-underrat...

Looks like ~2020+ iPhone models will be able to run iOS 18, so yeah, a lot of iPhones out there would need an upgrade to get this enhanced satellite feature.
https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/iphones/ios-18-supported-de...

"Colorado helicopter company testing new tech used for search & rescue"

https://www.kktv.com/2024/06/24/colorado-helicopter-company-...

I presume that this is a lightly modified https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stingray_phone_tracker

Starlink has launched the first few satellites which are dedicated not to their "UFO on stick" regular Internet service but rather to working directly with regular cellphones.

This will always be a much lower-speed service than 5G from a nearby tower, but should be nearly universally available geographically--at least if you step outside. While the initial trials are being conducted with T-Mobile in the USA, I don't think the eventual commercial arrangements and offerings have been announced yet.

As the service uses 4G LTE communication, it should physically be able to work with the great majority of phone models in current service.

Come to think of it, my geographical limitless comment won't apply in the extreme North and South unless they give some of these birds very high inclination orbits. They have already done that for regular Starlink--remains to be seen for this offering.

Apple released iOS 18 earlier today.

I suspect that we will learn more about satellite messaging in the coming days ahead.

Only for iPhone 14 and newer with iOS 18. Apple's latest release:

https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/text-via-satellite-iphb9262f4dd/ios#:~:text=On%20iPhone%2014%20models%20or,(U.S.%20and%20Canada%20only).

Thanks for that link. I'll quote an important bit:

In general the hope for broad availability from satellite services to mobile phone has a lot of dependencies.

1. availability of the provisioned satellites.
2. power from the satellite transmitter to your location
3. sensitivity of your antenna/receiver combination.
4. power output of your device
5. sensitivity of the satellite antenna/receiver combination

Variations in these parameters can move this sort of function all the way from works once in a while party trick, to actually can save your bacon "out there".

Yeah, it's a bit early to give up my Garmin Inreach service.

Bdhsfz6, thank you for sharing that. These are great things to know before traveling to an area you might need it in.

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/iphone/iphb9262f4dd/ios#:~:text=On%20iPhone%2014%20models%20or,(U.S.%20and%20Canada%20only).

iPhone User Guide

iOS 18

Table of Contents
Send a text message via satellite on iPhone
Important: Messages via satellite is not for emergency use. Dial 911 to use Emergency SOS instead.

On iPhone 14 models or later (any model) with iOS 18 or later, you can text friends and family via satellite when you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage (U.S. and Canada only).

Messages via satellite automatically prompts you to connect to your nearest satellite so you can send and receive texts, emoji, and Tapbacks over iMessage and SMS. Texts you send via satellite with iMessage are end-to-end encrypted.

Note: Not all carriers support text via satellite, and some features may vary. Third-party network service providers or Globalstar, Inc. and its affiliates provide the satellite network for features that use a satellite connection.

Sending messages to groups and sharing photos or videos isn’t supported over satellite, and character count may be limited.

For more information, see the Apple Support article About Messages via satellite.

The prompt to connect to a satellite, which appears when you open the Messages app on an iPhone 14 or later and don’t have cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.
Before leaving cellular and Wi-Fi coverage
To use iMessage via satellite, do the following before you’re outside cellular or Wi-Fi coverage:

Turn on iMessage.

Make sure anyone you want to communicate with using iMessage via satellite recently updated their iOS and is in your contacts, including their phone number.

Make sure you sent or received a message using iMessage recently (in the last month or so) from anyone you want to contact using iMessage via satellite.

When iMessage isn’t available, iPhone uses SMS via satellite to reach any mobile phone number. Do the following before you’re outside cellular or Wi-Fi coverage:

If you want someone to use SMS via satellite to contact you, add them to your Family Sharing group or emergency contacts (see Set up and view your Medical ID). For all others, you must first send a message using SMS via satellite before they can reply.

Make sure your SIM is active. You can’t send or receive a message using SMS via satellite without a supported carrier. See the Wireless carrier support and features for iPhone in the United States and Canada website.

Use iMessage via satellite
Go to the Messages app on your iPhone.

If you’re outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, a prompt automatically appears. Tap Use Messages via Satellite.

Follow the instructions to connect to a satellite, while remaining aware of your surroundings. You don’t need to raise your phone—just hold it as you normally would, and make sure that you’re outside with a clear view of the sky and the horizon. If you’re under heavy foliage or surrounded by other obstructions, you might not be able to connect to a satellite.

Other satellite-enabled services also become available, including Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, and Find My.

Enter your message, then tap the Send button.

Note: It may take a few minutes to send your message via satellite.

While using iMessage outside of cellular and Wi-Fi coverage, anyone you communicate with who’s in your contacts and has a cellular or Wi-Fi connection sees a status letting them know that you’re receiving messages via satellite.

When you connect, a green dot and a satellite icon appear at the top of your screen. If your connection weakens, the green dot turns orange, and a left arrow and a right arrow tell you where to find the signal.

In order to receive a message via satellite using iMessage, your recipient must use iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, or later. Otherwise, your message is sent over SMS.

Use SMS via satellite
Go to Settings > Apps > Messages.

Turn on Send as Text Message.

Connect to a satellite and send a message, as above. (See Use iMessage via satellite.)

The Send button is green instead of blue when sending with SMS.

This isn’t going to be easy. It isn’t easy for Starlink and Apple (and Google too) to write some code and make it possible, but it is apparently doable. Software Defined Radios (which I presume are native in both the satellites and phones) can be incredible.

What’s really hard? Getting FCC and/or ITU approval (As little as I know about the FCC, I know less about the ITU.) When folks protest over interference threats to their ox which they say is being gored, bureaucracies can screech to a halt. Companies are very possessive about the bandwidth that they “own”.

As some members here already know, Apple iPhone now has Satellite Messaging. I ran across this article which explains it. I am sharing this because some of us do get in some remote areas that won't have cell phone coverage. I am also finding that some current iPhone owners, even ones that have upgraded to iOS 18, have no idea that this feature is available.

https://goleary.medium.com/garmin-inreach-vs-iphone-satellit...

If you like to spend a lot of time in the mountains or other remote locations, you’re probably aware of Garmin’s inReach line of devices. For years they have enabled sending distress signals if you are hurt or in danger, and even communicating with friends & family via messages if you’re running late, or need some kind of non-emergency assistance. They are indispensable for a wide range of situations.

You may also be aware that newer iPhones (14 and up) have satellite capabilities that serve a similar purpose. Originally the iPhone’s capability was only for SOS (emergency) situations, but in 2024 they expanded the feature to enable sending both iMessages and SMS over satellite.

There are some significant difference in the capabilities of these devices, so how do they stack up?

Garmin inReach
Pros
Separate device (both a pro and a con)
Longer lasting battery
More rugged, less likely to break than your phone, but many of them require using a phone anyway to send messages, so you’ll probably have your phone out.
Global Satellite coverage via the Iridium network, and more reliable coverage in the US & Canada.
Supports photo & voice messaging if you have an inReach Messenger Plus ($499.99)
Live tracking — passively updates location every 10 or 2 minutes on Standard & Premium plans respectively.
Weather forecasts over satellite — this does count against your limited number of messages per month (on Essentials & Standard plans)
Sharable maps — friends and family can follow along as you track & post messages.
Cons
Separate device (both a pro and a con) — you have to keep a separate device charged, and it costs $300-$600 on top of the phone you already have.
Separate service — $40 activation fee plus an additional $15–50 per month depending on your level of usage
If you don’t want to use your device year round then you have to pay $7.99 per month to “suspend” the service, or you’ll have to pay the activation fee again next time you reenable service.
iPhone 14 and newer
This feature is not available on the iPhone 13 and older models.

Pros
Same device — only one device to keep charged. If you already use your phone for navigation, you probably already carry a backup battery.
Currently free to use — Apple has stated that the feature is free for 2 years after the purchase of a new device — there is no info on how much it will be after that period.
Integrated with Find My Friends — you can update your location over satellite, but it’s push only — doesn’t happen in the background.
Weather forecasts over satellite — this is not natively supported by iOS, but supported by using an app like TerraLog.
Sharable maps — friends and family can follow along as you post messages — this is not a native iOS feature, but is supported by using an app like TerraLog.
Satellite SOS is supported in: U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the U.K., Australia, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland & Japan.
Cons
Uses Globalstar network, the same one that Spot devices use. Coverage is not as good as Iridium, but Apple has invested $1.5B in Globalstar and expectations are that coverage and performance will improve soon.
Satellite messaging only works in the US & Canada — despite Globalstar having global coverage, Apple reports that their messaging feature is only supported in the US & Canada. It’s expected that coverage will expand with Apple’s investment into Globalstar.
Sending messages is more finicky than on the Garmin — the Satellite antenna is directional so you have to point the phone at a specific part of the sky. This can be annoying if you are on the go.
No background updates — iOS only supports “push” updates. You can send messages and location updates, but not in the background.
There are certainly some areas where a Garmin inReach is more capable & reliable than an iPhone — If you’re going on a multi-week expedition abroad, the inReach is probably the move, but you will pay a premium for this over using an iPhone. Even the most basic inReach is $300 and you’ll have to pay a $40 activation fee and an additional $15 or more per month for the service. That and if you don’t plan to use the device year round then you’ll have to either pay $8 per month for a lower level of service, or have to pay that activation fee again in the future.

There’s a huge array of use cases that are possible using just an iPhone. Many of them are supported natively, but others are enabled by use of an app like TerraLog which supports sharing location based messages on a map with anyone, and obtaining weather forecasts over satellite.

Are you planning on buying an inReach or upgrading your iPhone for satellite capabilities? Let me know in the comments if there are any considerations I’ve missed.

https://terralog.app

This is useful info.