Apple Expands Globalstar Relationship to Support Growing Satellite Services

[MacRumors]

Globalstar today announced an amended agreement with Apple that will see an expansion of the satellite services that support Apple features like Emergency SOS, Roadside Assistance, Messages, and Find My location updates that can now be handled in areas with no terrestrial Wi-Fi or cellular coverage in select countries.

According to the SEC filing by Globalstar, which is Apple's existing partner in providing satellite services, Globalstar will deliver a number of improvements to Apple including a new satellite constellation, expanded ground infrastructure to support the satellites and Apple's services, and increased global licensing of the new satellite services.

In exchange, Apple will make prepayments of up to $1.1 billion to support construction and launch of the new satellites and other expenses. Apple will also take a passive 20% equity interest in Globalstar at a cost of $400 million.

Apple's satellite services debuted in late 2022 on iPhone 14 models with the launch of Emergency SOS and Find My location updates via satellite in the U.S. and Canada, allowing users in remote areas to contact emergency services via text message. Over time, Apple's satellite services have expanded to additional countries and added new functions including Roadside Assistance in late 2023, and with iOS 18 this year, users can now communicate with others using iMessage and text messages via satellite even in non-emergency situations.

At the time of Apple's original satellite services launch in 2022, the company said the services would be offered for free for the first two years upon the purchase of a compatible phone, with a fee required beyond that time to continue using them. Apple has, however, extended the free service period and has yet to begin charging a fee. It is unclear at this point if or when Apple will begin charging for use of satellite services, and if so, what the fee will be.

Article Link: Apple Expands Globalstar Relationship to Support Growing Satellite Services

 

[Alwaysfindsaway]

This will only be great for customers! But dam, I wish I bought stock in Globalstar now! 😂

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Love it! For those of us that spend a lot of time off-grid and out in remote areas, this is the most exciting thing Apple has done in a while.

I've been testing out the messaging over the last few week and am pretty impressed with it. It's not nearly as robust, or as quick, as my Garmin inReach...but my inReach sub is $14.99/month or $29.99/month, depending on what I need. I'm probably end up cancelling it, but haven't decided yet. I've yet to receive an iMessage/SMS via satellite, so not sure how that works. Anyone know?

Looking forward to what else Apple will be doing with this. I don't personally care about calls or internet service when out, but I'm sure it would be popular, even if slow and pricy.

 

[awshucks]

Would really be good if Apple took the tiniest chunk out of their $3.4T and provided it free indefinitely, as some people who may need it will not pay for it.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

This is such an awesome service

I was able to use this service for the first time when I was at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming (last July) and there wasn’t any cell phone service in the portion of the park that I was in, but I was able to transmit my location (on the Find My app) via satellite and it was really cool

I hope that Apple continues to expand this service so that eventually we can browse the internet over satellite (on a limited basis) but still be able to get emails or a webpage if needed (even if at slow speeds)

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Would really be good if Apple took the tiniest chunk out of their $3.4T and provided it free indefinitely, as some people who may need it will not pay for it.

I suspect the SOS version will be 100% free, for everyone, forever, but they will starting charging for regular messaging.

 

[Kiwidevdude]

Be good when apple finally launches it in Australia in the 2040s....

 

[cyberink]

A logical next step for apple, would be is that they will launch their own satelitte system. Why make your self depended on other companies if you have the money laying around.

 

[CyclingHermit]

I've been testing out the messaging over the last few week and am pretty impressed with it. It's not nearly as robust, or as quick, as my Garmin inReach...but my inReach sub is $14.99/month or $29.99/month, depending on what I need. I'm probably end up cancelling it, but haven't decided yet.

I'm in the same boat, but I'll just move to the new 9.x/month "enabled" service. I think that's small price to pay for double reliability.

 

[Your Royal Highness]

I’m actually happy that Apple is investing in Globalstar, will be a partner and not lining Elon Musk pockets via Starlink.

 

[Burbulator]

Let's Apple buy Globalstar and build mobile empire with global coverage

 

[antiprotest]

I hope this will never need a subscription. Most people will not need this constantly and will not subscribe, and it'll be too late when they need it.

 

[mansplains]

I’m actually happy that Apple is investing in Globalstar, will be a partner and not lining Elon Musk pockets via Starlink.

Heaven forbid someone earn money providing a service 🙄

 

[Kar98]

I wondered, and was hoping Apple wasn't supporting the south african. Good to hear.

 

[H2SO4]

I’m actually happy that Apple is investing in Globalstar, will be a partner and not lining Elon Musk pockets via Starlink.

This was exactly the info I was looking for. Good on them for taking the ethical route.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Heaven forbid someone earn money providing a service 🙄

People are more than welcome to try and earn money providing a service, but no person, or company, is owed your business or your money.

 

[CyclingHermit]

People are more than welcome to try and earn money providing a service, but no one, or company, is owed your business or your money.

How is this in any way related to the topic that the parent replied to?

 

[Return Zero]

I’m actually happy that Apple is investing in Globalstar, will be a partner and not lining Elon Musk pockets via Starlink.

I agree from a competition standpoint. I'm no Elon hater and I think starlink is world-changing, but I definitely don't want them to monopolize satellite comms by any means. We need at least an iOS/android-type duopoly up there! XD

 

[H2SO4]

I agree from a competition standpoint. I'm no Elon hater and I think starlink is world-changing, but I definitely don't want them to monopolize satellite comms by any means. We need at least an iOS/android-type duopoly up there! XD

I am an Elon hater and am glad they decided to go elsewhere, even if it cost them and me money.

 

[Osxguy]

One issue I’m faced with is when I just barely have a bar like I’m remote but not remote enough. I can’t get sat services to activate because of that bar of service I can’t do anything with it messages won’t go through and if I move around I loose cell service and finally sat activates. Then a cloud moves and it comes back. So there needs to be an override or maybe there is and I don’t know.

 

[rman0726]

I’m actually happy that Apple is investing in Globalstar, will be a partner and not lining Elon Musk pockets via Starlink.

I’d rather they use whatever works best personally. I have no idea how good Globalstar is, but I was on a cruise last month and it felt pretty amazing to have reliable 25mbit internet in the middle of the Pacific Ocean via Starlink.

If I’m hiking a mountain in Alaska and I slide down a slope off path and break my leg? I’d rather a service that will get me in contact with emergency services. I am pretty sure that who owns that satellite company will not be high on my mind in that case.

I am not saying that Globalstar wouldn’t be able to. I have no idea. I just hope that Apple is going with them because they reliably can, and not because negative press coverage of reaching a deal with an Elon owned company might hurt their bottom line.

 

[rman0726]

I hope this will never need a subscription. Most people will not need this constantly and will not subscribe, and it'll be too late when they need it.

For emergency services? Sure. You never know when you might get stuck on the side of the road in a dead zone and it’d be good to have.

But i think there are plenty of situations where you can definitely plan ahead for where you might want messaging or limited connectivity. Going on a vacation where you plan to hike in more remote areas? Or go to Yellowstone? Or the Appalachian Trail? Wouldn’t be too bad to have the option to pay $10 for the month ahead of time.

 

[Expos of 1969]

I hope this will never need a subscription. Most people will not need this constantly and will not subscribe, and it'll be too late when they need it.

Well, that is life. Some people choose not to buy home content insurance and then moan and cry after a fire or break in. Others choose not to buy medical and repatriation insurance for their vacation abroad and then moan and cry when they find themselves in a foreign hospital after an accident of some type, and then have the nerve and gall to set up a Fund Me campaign so strangers can contribute to get them home. Personal responsibility is decreasing these days.

 

[centauratlas]

I hope this will never need a subscription. Most people will not need this constantly and will not subscribe, and it'll be too late when they need it.

My guess: most will be free for a year or two with new devices. It will also be included with Apple One thereafter. Emergency SOS will be included as long as the device is functioning.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

How long before Apple starts their own satellite-based carrier?