To what length can a smartphone company go to stand out from their competitors? Of course, they wouldn’t reach out to the stars for their users, or will they?
We have a fun iPhone rumour! Apple is reportedly planning to launch a new iPhone 13 lineup next month, and the news reports suggest that the upcoming models will feature Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication connectivity.
According to MacRumors, noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is claiming that iPhone 13 could have the ability to make satellite calls. The LEO connectivity allows you to make calls and send messages in areas without cellular coverage, all thanks to a customized Qualcomm X60 baseband chip.
LEO satellites are probably best known as the backbone of Elon Musk’s Starlink internet service, which relies on satellites in a lower orbit to beam internet down to customers and avoid some of the common pitfalls of satellite internet, including high latency and common blackouts.
Immarsat, a direct competitor to Starlink, announced a new constellation intended to blend with terrestrial 5G networks for a more global solution. iPhone recently witnessed its stock skyrocket when Qualcomm announced its upcoming X65 chip would support Globalstar’s Band n53 tech.
“Qualcomm’s support of Band n53 represents a significant milestone in our efforts to commercialize our spectrum in the US and all other countries where we have or expect to obtain terrestrial authority,” Kyle Pickens, vice president, strategy, at GlobalStar, said in an investor note at the time.
However, satellite connectivity wouldn’t be available in every country. Apple will also have to seek additional clearances from governments and meet standards, which may differ from one country to the next.
According to a survey, many iPhone users want the upcoming iPhone model to be named ‘iPhone 2021’ instead of ‘iPhone 13’. Around 26 per cent thought that the “iPhone 13” was the best name, and only 13 per cent said that they would like to see the devices called the “iPhone 12S”. The remaining wanted the name to be iPhone ‘2021’.