It appears that Google is preparing to introduce a satellite messaging feature similar to the iPhone 14’s Emergency SOS via satellite functionality in its Messages app. Data miners and leakers have discovered UI elements within the app that suggest the development of emergency satellite communications.
After the rollout of the RCS messaging update that made RCS the default protocol for all Google Messages users and added encryption to group chats, the discovery of placeholder text and system components related to emergency satellite communications has sparked speculation about Google’s intentions.
While it’s not entirely surprising that Google is working on satellite communication support, what’s interesting is that this feature seems to be integrated into the Google Messages app. This move could potentially further solidify Google Messages as users’ preferred communication app over competitors like WhatsApp and Telegram.
However, not all Android 14 devices will be capable of using this satellite communication feature. In addition to software support, the feature also requires appropriate modem hardware. Phones optimized for Android 14, like the rumored Google Pixel 8, are likely to include the necessary hardware, and some older phones such as the Google Pixel 7 might also be compatible. On the other hand, some phones will lack the required hardware, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 lineup, despite running on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform, which theoretically supports satellite communication.
It’s important to keep in mind that these discoveries are based on data mines and leaks, and nothing is official until manufacturers announce it. Delays in implementation or changes to feature availability are always possible in the development process.
