TL;DR
- Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc function was scheduled to launch in H2 2023, however the partnership behind the expertise has been terminated on account of lack of adoption.
- Qualcomm has shifted focus to a standards-based answer, whereas Iridium can now re-engage with smartphone OEMs and others.
- This leaves the room open for seeing satellite tv for pc connectivity options on Android in 2024.
Apple introduced smartphone satellite tv for pc connectivity to the limelight with the launch of the iPhone 14. In case of an emergency in supported areas, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 collection can hook up with a low-orbit satellite tv for pc and ship an SOS message, even when there isn’t any cell sign on the telephone. Android flagships don’t need to be left behind, after all, and so got here alongside Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc. However it appears that evidently we Android followers have to attend a bit longer, because the partnership behind Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc has been terminated.
As reported by CNBC, Qualcomm has ended its partnership with Iridium, the satellite tv for pc communications firm.
In its press launch, Iridium shared that the businesses had efficiently developed and demonstrated satellite tv for pc messaging and emergency providers in Snapdragon smartphones. However regardless of the technical success of Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc, smartphone producers had not included the expertise of their gadgets. In consequence, Qualcomm had chosen to terminate the settlement.
Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc on Android was stated to be supported on Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 telephones that had extra antenna {hardware}. The service boasted pole-to-pole protection and was anticipated to be supplied in North America and Europe initially. It additionally promised to supply two-way messaging, letting customers ship and obtain messages. Snapdragon Satellite tv for pc was anticipated to launch in H2 2023, however with this announcement, we are able to safely presume that that’s unlikely to occur anymore.
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
The silver lining within the announcement is that satellite tv for pc communication tech remains to be destined to reach on the broader Android platform. Qualcomm instructed CNBC that smartphone makers have “indicated a choice in the direction of standards-based options” for satellite-to-phone connectivity. Qualcomm will proceed to collaborate with Iridium on standards-based options whereas discontinuing efforts on the proprietary answer.
The termination of this settlement additionally opens up Iridium to re-engage with smartphone OEMs, different chipmakers, and smartphone OS builders with whom the corporate had beforehand collaborated.
So, whereas Android doesn’t appear to be it can get satellite tv for pc connectivity options this yr, there’s nonetheless loads of scope for the function to reach in 2024. We sit up for seeing it on our favourite Android flagships within the coming yr.
