Bloomberg: Apple Working on Emergency Satellite Features for iPhones, 2021 Launch Unlikely

[IllinoisCorn]

Gotta wonder why some people still doubt Kuo. Well over a decade of reliable predictions in the industry. Countless contacts in the supply chain. Nothing in the iPhone is made without the Chinese supply chain knowing it.

Kuo might not be familiar with the soft aspects of the deal, e.g. which satellite provider Apple is partnering with or marketing launch dates. But when it comes to hardware, he's almost 100% in the know.

I agree for the most part. There are issues with translation, which is how we got the "iPhone "Math" (remember that?). The "Math" was the +/Plus symbol of the iPhone Six Plus.

In 2015, Kuo stated Apple was working on a MacBook Air with 2 ports at the same time as they were making the 2016 MacBook Pro's. The machine Kuo called an Air was the two port MacBook Pro Apple explicitly stated was for Air customers, so he was sort of right.

This satellite thing looks similar to the second example---Apple will use satellites, but not in the manner Kuo thinks/reported.

This Bloomberg piece leaked very quickly after the piece from Kuo earlier in the week, so it sounds like Apple wanted to rapidly clear up any confusion and dampen expectations. It also means (at least I think) Apple leaks things or approves things to be leaked through Gurman.

 

[Flight Plan]

Dang. They shut Kuo down real quick. But glad to hear Apple is working on this feature.

Yeah, this is great! 🤨 <-- Can you hear my inflection of sarcasm?

It is the combining of this "feature" with something ELSE that Apple is working on...that's what has me concerned.

After they get you with your iCloud picture of a shrub, kid's toy, meal, or other picture that results in a false-positive for that child thing that Apple is looking for, that same thing that we all talked about endlessly in at least two different MacRumors article comment sections last week, they'll know right where to send the police to pick you up and confiscate your phone.

Yes, the same phone which, incidentally, might be the only device that could exonerate you in a court of law.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being able to use satellite tech in any emergency that may have shut down or otherwise be out of range of the cell networks. I sure don't want to be that guy who, after becoming pinned between two big boulders during an outdoor hike, ended up having to chew off his forearm like some hapless possum caught in a hunter's trap. Okay, he used a knife, and he did ultimately turn this horrible situation into success for himself, but still...

But in the toxic soup that makes up our blame-first-and-ignore-due-process legal and cultural environment as it stands today? Way too many alarm bells for my comfort. What's to keep Apple from using iCloud to "get you" and then suddenly, before you can mount a defense, the cops come raiding your place and mishandling, damaging, or destroying the very evidence that could set you free?

Nothing.

If you have ever been falsely accused of betraying a friend or family member, or of breaking a law, then you might already know that feeling. That's the feeling that you didn't do what you were being accused of doing, and you can't do ANYTHING about it or get anybody to listen to your side of the story or even to convince them to have an open-enough mind to just take a look at your own evidence.

If you never had something like this happen to you, then maybe you live a charmed life. Or you've just had dumb luck up to this point.

We're just over 24 years late for SkyNet, but can any of us be absolutely certain that it's NOT being created as we read the articles? And how can any of us be certain that it won't be used against us to shape public opinion by way of destroying evidence or by manufacturing false evidence?

I'm just saying maybe we should be thinking about tapping the brakes a bit here. We're going very fast for this curvy mountain pass...

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Yeah, this is great! 🤨 <-- Can you hear my inflection of sarcasm?

It is the combining of this "feature" with something ELSE that Apple is working on...that's what has me concerned.

After they get you with your iCloud picture of a shrub, kid's toy, meal, or other picture that results in a false-positive for that child thing that Apple is looking for, that same thing that we all talked about endlessly in at least two different MacRumors article comment sections last week, they'll know right where to send the police to pick you up and confiscate your phone.

Yes, the same phone which, incidentally, might be the only device that could exonerate you in a court of law.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for being able to use satellite tech in any emergency that may have shut down or otherwise be out of range of the cell networks. I sure don't want to be that guy who, after becoming pinned between two big boulders during an outdoor hike, ended up having to chew off his forearm like some hapless possum caught in a hunter's trap. Okay, he used a knife, and he did ultimately turn this horrible situation into success for himself, but still...

But in the toxic soup that makes up our blame-first-and-ignore-due-process legal and cultural environment as it stands today? Way too many alarm bells for my comfort. What's to keep Apple from using iCloud to "get you" and then suddenly, before you can mount a defense, the cops come raiding your place and mishandling, damaging, or destroying the very evidence that could set you free?

Nothing.

If you have ever been falsely accused of betraying a friend or family member, or of breaking a law, then you might already know that feeling. That's the feeling that you didn't do what you were being accused of doing, and you can't do ANYTHING about it or get anybody to listen to your side of the story or even to convince them to have an open-enough mind to just take a look at your own evidence.

If you never had something like this happen to you, then maybe you live a charmed life. Or you've just had dumb luck up to this point.

We're just over 24 years late for SkyNet, but can any of us be absolutely certain that it's NOT being created as we read the articles? And how can any of us be certain that it won't be used against us to shape public opinion by way of destroying evidence or by manufacturing false evidence?

I'm just saying maybe we should be thinking about tapping the brakes a bit here. We're going very fast for this curvy mountain pass...

well said! You do make very good points.

 

[LoadStar]

So, basically an integrated version of a "SPOT Satellite Messenger."

Still impressive if they can miniaturize it to fit into an iPhone along with normal functionality. SPOT devices by themselves are physically larger than an iPhone.

 

[cmaier]

So, basically an integrated version of a "SPOT Satellite Messenger."

Still impressive if they can miniaturize it to fit into an iPhone along with normal functionality. SPOT devices by themselves are physically larger than an iPhone.

The Microsoft SPOT watch was not larger than an iPhone

(anyone remember that thing?)

 

[RalfTheDog]

The satellite features are "unlikely to be ready before next year,"

That sounds like almost a for sure, maybe this year thing to me. ;-)

It really depends on who their working with and for how long. If their years into this and say with SpaceX this year could be a possibility. Guessing it'd be very basic message only, but this would be a huge gamechanger - from a not really needed by many but wanted by almost everyone type of emergency feature.

Kuo is normally pretty accurate.

The hardware could roll out in 2021, but the contract with the sat provider might not yet be ready. Launch might not happen until SpaceX has a few more launches of their own.

 

[rjohnstone]

The Microsoft SPOT watch was not larger than an iPhone

(anyone remember that thing?)

MicroSoft SPOT Messenger was an FM radio based device, not satellite. It sucked.

A SPOT Satellite Messenger that Globalstar sells is a little chunky square box that is way thicker than an iPhone.
SPOT X is cool, but that antenna is HUGE.

 

[cmaier]

MicroSoft SPOT Messenger was an FM radio based device, not satellite. It sucked.

A SPOT Satellite Messenger that Globalstar sells is a little chunky square box that is way thicker than an iPhone.
SPOT X is cool, but that antenna is HUGE.

I know. That’s what the smiley face means. It’s a joke. Sheesh.

 

[wilberforce]

This is a fantastic safety feature. Even better than things like fall detection, ECG on the Apple Watch.
I have a Garmin InReach satellite communicator ($350 plus $13/month subscription), which enables me to send emergency (and non-emergency) texts when in remote areas out of cellphone range. I quite often go into remote areas by myself.
Most people are reluctant to spend that much, on the off-chance that maybe they might need it. But if such a capability was already built-in to a smartphone, then that would be huge.
This death, for example, could have instead just been an inconvenience if they had had a satellite communicator:

Camper dies, wife rescued in Death Valley National Park

An Arizona tourist has died and his wife has been rescued after their vehicle got two flat tires and they went missing in Death Valley National Park in California

abcnews.go.com

This was one of the reports that made me really realize the value of the Garmin InReach, as I had been to near the location where he died.

 

[fastlanephil]

I’VE been taking a subscription free Ocean Signal PLB1 emergency transmitter with me on my solo trips into the wilderness the last couple of years. It’s small enough to easily fit into my day hike 24 hr, 10 essentials back pack shoulder strap pouch. There’s always two cliff bars in the other pouch for emergency nutrition. I or someone else would have to be in pretty dire straights before I‘d set off the PLB1 though as it will probably activate a local ESAR or other folks and provide them with a pretty accurate location beacon.

 

[cmaier]

I’VE been taking a subscription free Ocean Signal PLB1 emergency transmitter with me on my solo trips into the wilderness the last couple of years. It’s small enough to easily fit into my day hike 24 hr, 10 essentials back pack shoulder strap pouch. There’s always two cliff bars in the other pouch for emergency nutrition. I or someone else would have to be in pretty dire straights before I‘d set off the PLB1 though as it will probably activate a local ESAR or other folks and provide them with a pretty accurate location beacon.

Whenever I’m headed into the wilderness I somehow get lost and end up in a 4-star hotel in a city. I find it pretty convenient.

 

[wilberforce]

Whenever I’m headed into the wilderness I somehow get lost and end up in a 4-star hotel in a city. I find it pretty convenient.

Excellent contingency plan!

 

[ececlv]

Apple is working on satellite capabilities for the iPhone that will allow users to send texts in emergency situations, reports Bloomberg. The feature would also allow iPhone users to report crashes and other emergencies in areas where there is no cellular coverage.

There are at least two emergency features that will rely on satellite networks, and while satellite technology has been in the works for years, these capabilities are not likely to launch in 2021.

The first feature, Emergency Message via Satellite, is designed to let users text emergency services and contacts using a satellite network when there is no signal available, and it will be integrated into the Messages app as a third communications protocol alongside SMS and iMessage. It will feature gray message bubbles rather than green or blue, and message length will be restricted.The second feature will let users report major emergencies like plane crashes and fires using satellite networks. It will be similar to a "911" call in the U.S. and can provide information like a user's location and medical ID, in addition to alerting emergency contacts.

A report over the weekend from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 13 would include low earth orbit satellite communication connectivity to allow users to make calls and send messages without 4G and 5G coverage, but further analysis has indicated that this suggestion is incorrect and unlikely.

According to Bloomberg, when Apple does implement satellite connectivity, it will be limited to "crisis scenarios" and will not be an alternative to cellular networks that allows for widespread texting and calling.

Apple will not launch these satellite capabilities in every country, and their availability will be dependent on local regulations and satellite locations. One built-in feature will ask users to go outdoors and walk in a specified direction to help the iPhone connect to a satellite. Connections may not be instantaneous, and it could take up to a minute for an iPhone to successfully communicate with a satellite.

Connecting to satellites will require a special modem chip, and Apple will continue to use Qualcomm technology for the next few years. It is not clear if Apple will partner with Globalstar, as Kuo has suggested. Globalstar competitors Iridium Communications and Omnispace are not working with Apple, according to Bloomberg, but the report does not rule out Globalstar.

The satellite features are "unlikely to be ready before next year," though Apple's modem chips this year could "have the hardware needed for satellite communications." The functionality could be changed or scrapped prior to when Apple is planning to launch it and it has not yet been finalized.

Apple has considered launching its own satellites, but the planned emergency features will rely on existing networks.

Article Link: Bloomberg: Apple Working on Emergency Satellite Features for iPhones, 2021 Launch Unlikely

Apple has the money to do all sorts of cool things So I guess it could happen. But what % of iPhone users need this functionality? Its not free — the hardware added to the phone for a feature that 99% of the users won’t activate, the infastructure to process the emergency calls - localized. Its not just dumped into the 911 network, it likely will require a dedicated call center to figure out what agency to notify. Unless there is more functionality than an inReach, it will be tough for Apple to make up the revenue it costs to add this to every iPhone.

 

[-BigMac-]

I trust Kuo over Bloomberg tbh

 

[magicschoolbus]

I think this is far away. I doubt Apple would release such tech without it being on an Apple piece of hardware. If I were a betting man I’d line up this release up against the Apple modem release. If it’s in development it’s going to be done internally- and I don’t see it being done on a mid cycle model “S” versions- would probably be done on a super cycle model.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

This would be great for T-Mobile users. I might finally be able to send text messages when I'm not on wifi.

 

[TraceyS/FL]

Well, when a hurricane hits it takes cell towers down - last go was 5 days? Had to go watch a keynote in the parking lot of CFA using wifi. Still not sure how that section of town kept power, but it was a great memory maker with the kids.

Anyway, it would be welcomed in many parts of the world I’m sure.

 

[ColdShadow]

I won’t be buying iPhone 13 with or without this feature.
I don’t want my device searched and monitored by Apple.

 

[cmaier]

I won’t be buying iPhone 13 with or without this feature.
I don’t want my device searched and monitored by Apple.

Good thing apple neither searches nor monitors any device it sells, but you have fun with your completely snoop-free android phone, i guess.

 

[ColdShadow]

Good thing apple neither searches nor monitors any device it sells, but you have fun with your completely snoop-free android phone, i guess.

You need to read about it more.

They are indeed going to do the search ON DEVICE and they are the only company who will be doing this.

others,google,dropbox,Microsoft,etc only search the content uploaded on THEIR servers,not on PEOPLES device.
FACT.

 

[cmaier]

You need to read about it more.

They are indeed going to do the search ON DEVICE and they are the only company who will be doing this.

others,google,dropbox,Microsoft,etc only search the content uploaded on THEIR servers,not on PEOPLES device.
FACT.

No, they are not searching on device. You need to read about it. Right now every other company searches through your unencrypted files when you put them on their cloud service. *Instead*, what Apple does is, only when you upload a file to icloud, your devices compares a cryptographic hash of the photo to a list of cryptographic hashes, and uploads a “voucher“ that goes along with the photo.

If, and only if, you upload *30* photos that match these hashes, does Apple have enough of the cryptographic keys necessary to be able to have a human look at a very low resolution version of any flagged photos to determine whether or not they really are kiddy porn.

This will allow Apple to store all your icloud photos in encrypted form for now on, so that they can never see them unless they are flagged as kiddy porn, and still perform the reporting function they are required to by law.

Moreover, this feature cannot be misused to find any other kind of material, because (1) it only looks at photos, and only if you upload them to icloud; (2) the reference hashes are distributed with the OS, and cannot be targeted to any specific user or region; (3) any security researcher would be able to see that Apple has modified the code or the hashes to do something different.

This is so much less intrusive than what any competitor is doing that it is not even funny.

So, again, have fun with Android, where nothing is private, and I’ll stick to iPhones.

 

[ChrisA]

when will I ever need to use this feature? I am traveling less and less these days...

Apple does not build phones just for you. They have other customers. Apple does not build phones just for people who live in you country either. They are sold world wide.

But even in the place I live, Southern California, I find areas with no cell coverage. Many places with hills have dead zones and then if you walk a couple miles away from a the nearest road coverage can fade. So even in a high-tech and affluent part of the world, coverage is not universal. Also I owned a sailboat and found it did not take long to sail over the horizon and be outside of coverage, yes, even at the slow speed of a sailboat I could be out of coverage in a couple hours.

 

[citysnaps]

Apple has the money to do all sorts of cool things So I guess it could happen. But what % of iPhone users need this functionality? Its not free — the hardware added to the phone for a feature that 99% of the users won’t activate, the infastructure to process the emergency calls - localized. Its not just dumped into the 911 network, it likely will require a dedicated call center to figure out what agency to notify. Unless there is more functionality than an inReach, it will be tough for Apple to make up the revenue it costs to add this to every iPhone.

I believe that infrastructure already exists. And that added functionality and cost to an iPhone will be minimal.

 

[ChrisA]

No, they are not searching on device.....

If, and only if, you upload *30* photos that match these hashes, does Apple have enough of the cryptographic keys necessary to be able to have a human look at a very low resolution version of any flagged photos to determine whether or not they really are kiddy porn. ...

On top of all this the user can completely block Apple's ability to detect child porn. All you need to do is modify the photo enough to change the hash. This is trivial to do and I expect there to be apps to do just this. It could even run one your phone periodically and radomly modify each photo every few days. Apple's plan is very simple to defeat.

 

[citysnaps]

The more I think about this and that it will be restricted to low bandwidth emergency texts (rather than normal voice communication) with embedded gps data for location (which is already built in), the more I believe it could/will actually happen. What a coup for Apple if it comes to fruition.