The Android 14 update brings many new features such as better font scaling, improved battery life, predictive feedback, and better privacy for images and videos. It also offers native support for satellite connectivity to establish emergency communications, and this feature may come first on Google and Samsung phones.
At the Google I/O 2023 event earlier this year, Google proudly announced that it has added satellite link support to Android 14. Now, the official Team Pixel FC Twitter account has announced that the satellite link will first be available on Google and Samsung phones. However, it is worth remembering that Team Pixel FC is an official fan club account for Pixel devices and is not a direct communication channel from Google. Still, it gives some hints about upcoming features.
What is a two-way satellite link?
The two-way satellite link will allow users to send SMS even if their phone is in an area where there is no cellular connection. The message will be transmitted via a satellite to the network provider, which will then send the message to the targeted person. For this feature to work, the user must have a clear view of the open sky and a phone with native hardware support for two-way satellite connectivity. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip supports this feature but needs additional hardware and the feature will be fully available in the second half of this year.
Last year, it was said that the Galaxy S23 could be the first Samsung smartphone to have local satellite connectivity for emergency messages. However, the phone did not gain this capability and Samsung said it did not bring this feature as the technology is not ready to use yet. A few months later, it introduced two-way satellite link technology for smartphones. This feature is expected to be included in the Galaxy S24 series, which will be released in early 2024.
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