The satellite emergency SMS system is on the radar of major telecommunications and technology companies. The feature is present on the iPhone and should land on Android 14 soon. Now there are new reports of how Google should offer the service: from a partnership with Garmin, which already has know-how in this type of activity.
One developer stumbled upon strings from the next version of the Google Messages app that mention Garmin in the context of satellite connectivity. “For questions about your emergency, call Garmin at [number],” the purported instruction on the messaging app reads.
Very little is still known about the subject. Google had already shown interest in offering this type of connectivity, which is interesting for situations where there is no Wi-Fi or any other telephony signal.
The foreign website AndroidPolice ponders that Google would not include references to another brand in the software of the future Android 14 if there was no contract between the companies.
I tested iPhone emergency SMS in San Francisco a few months ago. This is a limited tool. You need to have a view from the sky and align the smartphone with the nearest satellite. In addition, communication is time-consuming.
Apple’s tool is available in some countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Garmin’s technology is more comprehensive, with a presence in more than 150 nations on every continent.
Other companies are eyeing the appeal. The CEO of Qualcomm, Cristiano Amon, told me a few months ago that the satellite connection brings a clear benefit to the consumer because “we are dependent on networks.” In addition to smartphones, it can also be quite interesting in vehicles. “It’s important to know where the user is if the airbag deploys,” he said.
It is worth remembering that the company is a supplier of modems for various connection formats, including 5G.
