At CES 2023 in January, Qualcomm revealed a new project, Snapdragon Satellite, that would let phones packing Snapdragon chips use satellites to link up in areas without a cell signal. But now the deal is off between Qualcomm and satellite network company Iridium, leaving Snapdragon Satellite’s future uncertain.
Apple was the first to deploy large-scale phone-to-satellite communications with Emergency SOS, which debuted on the iPhone 14 series in October 2022. Qualcomm unveiled Snapdragon Satellite months later as a hardwired way for Android phones to use Iridium’s satellites for calls and texting beyond cell signal range as a paid service. Qualcomm said that phones could start coming out with the functionality in the second half of 2023, though manufacturers would have had to implement it in their handsets.
Despite a successful demonstration of Snapdragon Satellite at CES, to date no phones have launched with it, which is why Qualcomm has ended its deal with Iridium, according to the latter’s press release on Thursday.
“While I’m disappointed that this partnership didn’t bear immediate fruit, we believe the direction of the industry is clear toward increased satellite connectivity in consumer devices,” Iridium CEO Matt Desch said in the press release. “Our global coverage and regulatory certainty make us well suited to be a key player in this emerging market. User experience will be critical to their success, and we’ve proven that we can provide a reliable, global capability to mobile users.”
Iridium noted that it will continue to pursue partnerships with phone manufacturers and mobile industry players for “existing and future service plans” of satellite connectivity.
Qualcomm provided a statement that cited smartphone manufacturers’ preference for standards-based connectivity options, rather than the chip-based Snapdragon Satellite proprietary solution. The company didn’t say if Snapdragon Satellite…
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