Elon Musk's SpaceX to Launch Satellites for Apple's Emergency SOS Feature on iPhones

[Tdude96]

SpaceX advertises that a Falcon 9 launch costs $52M.
Globalstar will pay SpaceX $64 million according to the details of the arrangement, which were disclosed in an SEC filing. Payments will be made from 2023 to 2025, which is when SpaceX plans to launch the satellites.
so SpaceX regularly shoots satellites up for for StarLink, wonder whether this will be using StarLink or another type of satellite ...

I wondered the same thing at first, but these launches are most likely based on Globestar's existing technologies, not StarLink's more advanced setup. SpaceX regularly launches other people's satellites. It's good revenue to have one of the most advanced and reliable launch services in existence.

 

[Abazigal]

Provide a certain country free satellite internet on SpaceX's dollar? Currently doing that.

Which country is that? To my knowledge, Ukraine is paying Starlink for satellite internet access, and there have been a few occasions where their own military operations have been compromised when said internet access mysteriously became unavailable for no apparent reason. So while Elon Musk might be the only option there is at the moment, he hasn't exactly proven himself to be entirely trustworthy in this regard.

 

[nelloismello]

Elon should be CEO of Apple, at least he has balls compared to Tim

 

[dannyyankou]

I see a lot more *preemptive* complaining about anti-Elon bashing than actual Elon bashing.

 

[krspkbl]

Elon should be CEO of Apple, at least he has balls compared to Tim

That would be hilarious. This entire site would implode.

 

[tripsync]

I'll just focus on the last part since their margins are not germane to the discussion.

First part focuses on the subsidies actually.

And the second sentence is based on nothing but your wannabe speculation.

You are entitled to your own opinions but cannot create your own facts. But, FYI - Tesla agreed to fully open it up AFTER(!) the US Gov aid they would foot the bill, not a second before (late 2024). And is estimated to bring in over 3 billion/year by the start of the next decade, so please, tell me again how it isn't about the money?

They started opening up the Superchargers in January 2022 (https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-norway-oslo-north-supercharger-pilot-program/) actually and there were comments well before 2022 where Elon mentioned they would open it up (https://evchargeplus.com/teslas-superchargers-will-be-accessible-for-everyone/). Sorry, but it's a fact Tesla would have opened up either way.

Even more so, they're opening up in California but they're taking ZERO state credits. https://electrek.co/2023/03/14/tesl...ing-superchargers-payment-system-integration/

due to unnecessarily cumbersome payment infrastructure requirements, we are unable to utilize this award.

Then there's the IRA credits for up to $4,500 of credits for each battery pack in a car made in USA: https://cleantechnica.com/2023/06/0...ll-model-3-cars-eligible-for-full-tax-credit/

It provides a $45 per kilowatt-hour production credit for battery packs made in the US, a $35 per kWh production credit for the battery cells, and a $10 per kWh production credit for the battery modules. That translates into tax credits of around $2,700 to $4,500 per vehicle.

Meanwhile Tesla opted to ask for $30k/charger when the limit was $150k/charger in Texas despite each charger costing about $50k to make: https://electrek.co/2022/04/15/tesla-cost-deploy-superchargers-revealed-one-fifth-competition/

Companies couldn’t apply for more than 70% of the cost of the chargers up to $150,000 per charger, and Forbes reports that Tesla was asking for only ~$30,000 per charger versus the full $150,000 for most applicants

They've only added ~3000 stations in Q1 WORLDWIDE (https://insideevs.com/news/663391/tesla-supercharging-network-2023q1/). Assume 1/3 is in USA, that's about 3k USA supercharger stalls/year. You're honestly telling me that Tesla will receive more credits from 3k superchargers/year than manufacturing 500k-1million/year cars in USA? Lol. Nope.

And is estimated to bring in over 3 billion/year

Link me the source please.

I assume you're talking about piper's estimates which by 2030, they'll bring $3 billion in profits ? https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/supercharger-network-tesla-ev-charging-stations/

That's not really *SUBSIDY*. That's profits (which by the way, you even said it yourself it's not "germane to the discussion". 🤦‍♂️

If you want to talk profits:
By 2030, Tesla wants to produce 20 million EV production per year https://www.reuters.com/technology/...mln-evs-could-cost-tesla-billions-2022-08-30/

Tesla currently makes $10k profit per car: https://fourweekmba.com/tesla-profit-margin-per-car/
20million * $10k = $200 billion profit per year.

Tell me which one is more profitable?

You wanted facts, here you are.

So instead of trying to play fast and loose with the facts, take your own advice and Google them. But that's a big ask, so I shouldn't even bother.

I linked you 9 sources. You linked me zero. It's not that you "shouldn't even bother", it's the fact that you *didn't* even bother with any sort of research.

Have a good one. 👋

 

[jnowaskie]

Wait...is this the real plan here to eventually render the carriers obsolete? 🤯

 

[Rainshadow]

This is really a stupid feature if you ask me. If you're putting yourself into a situation where you need emergency communications buying an Iridium phone or beacon is a far far better idea. I suspect this might put people off a safety conscious decision because there is some assumption they can fall back on the iPhone, which is extremely difficult to use in this mode I understand, you know when you're injured or incapacitated.

Casual stuff, you might be lucky...

As someone who puts themselves in these situations daily, you couldn’t be more wrong. Even our highways can be out of service here. You have no idea how much fun it can be to try and use one of these other devices. They are expensive, clunky, and have a horrid user interface.

Sure, if someone wants to text Willy nilly and have unlimited features and their SO needs them checking in every hour, then yes, a dedicated device could be more useful. But for someone who is generally self reliant and simply wants to ability to request emergency help in an emergency… this is golden.

I stand by my earlier statements. Once this is standard on phones, and people know they have it (I have friends who have never heard of this feature) it will be the most significant addition to a cell phone since cordless.

I do hope in time they open it to x number of text messages a month though. That would be nice.

 

[iGeneo]

Clickbait headline... seems to have worked

 

[MrENGLISH]

I don't understand why people are even talking about Elon when Globalstar is the one providing Apple with its satellite services.

Knowing that the new iPhone 15 lineup (and possibly some of the new Apple Watches) will offer support for Emergency SOS, I'd be focusing my attention on Globalstar and investing in their stock before it goes up after Apple's September 12th event.

If Apple is going to start charging for the service, you know they are getting a piece of that pie.

 

[Bobcat32]

I am definitely all in for an emergency based satellite network and it’s maintenance. So glad this is being taken care of. However let’s just hope there aren’t any unnecessary expansions of wifi based stuff ones. I think ground based should be the defacto of telecommunications. Don’t want to be dirtying things up unnecessarily up there.

 

[Abazigal]

Elon should be CEO of Apple, at least he has balls compared to Tim

Seeing the way Elon has run Twitter (or run it into the ground rather), I am glad there's a mature adult holding the reins at Apple. Tim Cook may not give the most inspiring keynote presentations, but that's really the least of his priorities at Apple right now.

 

[tripsync]

Which country is that? To my knowledge, Ukraine is paying Starlink for satellite internet access, and there have been a few occasions where their own military operations have been compromised when said internet access mysteriously became unavailable for no apparent reason. So while Elon Musk might be the only option there is at the moment, he hasn't exactly proven himself to be entirely trustworthy in this regard.

Elon says SpaceX will keep paying:

Elon Musk says SpaceX will keep paying for Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine

"To hell with it," Musk said on Twitter adding that SpaceX will keep funding Ukraine's Starlink after all.

www.space.com

Mykhailo confirmed

https://twitter.com/x/status/1584418641063604225

Elon turned down the DoD money

https://twitter.com/x/status/1650008972865224704

Also 10,630 of the 25,300 of the terminals are paying for the service.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582098412501364736

FYI:
500+ Tesla Powerwalls and 40k+ starlinks sent

https://twitter.com/x/status/1686004128655298560

"internet access mysteriously became unavailable for no apparent reason." is not proof of Elon doing anything malicious.

 

[matsan]

"Emergency SOS via Satellite is available in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the UK, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal."

So functioned as expected

Why these geographic restrictions? If I come with a Swedish phone to hike in the US - will this feature work?
(I already have a PLB when doing forestry, kayaking and hiking)

 

[Abazigal]

Elon says SpaceX will keep paying:

Elon Musk says SpaceX will keep paying for Starlink satellite internet service in Ukraine

"To hell with it," Musk said on Twitter adding that SpaceX will keep funding Ukraine's Starlink after all.

www.space.com

Mykhailo confirmed

https://twitter.com/x/status/1584418641063604225

Elon turned down the DoD money

https://twitter.com/x/status/1650008972865224704

Also 10,630 of the 25,300 of the terminals are paying for the service.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582098412501364736

FYI:
500+ Tesla Powerwalls and 40k+ starlinks sent

https://twitter.com/x/status/1686004128655298560

Explain this article then.

Ukraine to get 10,000 more Starlink antennas; funding problems are “resolved”

Ukraine has assurance from Musk and funding deals with EU allies, official says.

arstechnica.com

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Wins Pentagon Deal for Starlink in Ukraine

The Pentagon is buying Starlink satellite communications terminals and services from billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX for use by the Ukraine military, the Defense Department said.

www.bloomberg.com

Elon's assurances also aren't worth the paper they are written on, considering that the recent Saudi citizen to be executed for his tweets against the royal family likely got outed by Twitter itself, and this comes hot on the heels of Elon promising to pay for the lawsuit of anyone being targeted for their use of the social media platform.

 

[tripsync]

Explain this article then.

Ukraine to get 10,000 more Starlink antennas; funding problems are “resolved”

Ukraine has assurance from Musk and funding deals with EU allies, official says.

arstechnica.com

Elon Musk’s SpaceX Wins Pentagon Deal for Starlink in Ukraine

The Pentagon is buying Starlink satellite communications terminals and services from billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX for use by the Ukraine military, the Defense Department said.

www.bloomberg.com

Elon's assurances also aren't worth the paper they are written on, considering that the recent Saudi citizen to be executed for his tweets against the royal family likely got outed by Twitter itself, and this comes hot on the heels of Elon promising to pay for the lawsuit of anyone being targeted for their use of the social media platform.

Explain how? Did you even read your first link?

Articles don't explain the distribution of which terminals' services are paid for by pentagon. For all we know, extra 10k terminals means extra 10k lines paid for pentagon. No where does it say Pentagon is footing the bill for the existing lines now (at least I can't read the paywall bloomberg link)

I think you missed this post:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582098412501364736

 

[Abazigal]

What about it?

Articles don't explain the distribution of which terminals' services are paid for by pentagon. For all we know, extra 10k terminals means extra 10k lines paid for pentagon. No where does it say Pentagon is footing the bill for all lines now (at least I can't read the paywall bloomberg link)

I think you missed this post:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1582098412501364736

The point is that you are quoting a tweet that's almost a year old, and which does not reflect the realities on the ground right now.

 

[tripsync]

The point is that you are quoting a tweet that's almost a year old, and which does not reflect the realities on the ground right now.

Unless you have data today to show otherwise, it remains valid. That's a ridiculous argument.

 

[tripsync]

I see a lot more *preemptive* complaining about anti-Elon bashing than actual Elon bashing.

Probably should read more pages of comments then.

 

[pugxiwawa]

I'll just focus on the last part since their margins are not germane to the discussion. And the second sentence is based on nothing but your wannabe speculation.

You are entitled to your own opinions but cannot create your own facts. But, FYI - Tesla agreed to fully open it up AFTER(!) the US Gov aid they would foot the bill, not a second before (late 2024). And is estimated to bring in over 3 billion/year by the start of the next decade, so please, tell me again how it isn't about the money?

So instead of trying to play fast and loose with the facts, take your own advice and Google them. But that's a big ask, so I shouldn't even bother.

Edit: Typo and financial clarity.

Wrong. Magic Dock was already in the work prior to US gov announcement. Tesla has always maintained that they are willing to license and open up SC to anyone. NACS was open sourced years ago but no other manufactures wanted to work with Tesla. That’s until this year Ford finally threw in the towel because how bad EA and ChargePoint were. Tesla is not making off money from licensing deal, ie ford or gm Or Mercedes were not paying for the privilege being able to use SC. 2024 is just the timeline that it will take them months to update each car software in order to communicate with Tesla.

And what do you mean it’s about money? Of course it’s about money. Please tell us which business exists for the purpose not to make money? You think Tesla should operate these SC for free? Do you work for free?

 

[JapanApple]

To me it’s really funny how people come here and cry and rave just seems Jealous of all these wealthy people.

 

[caliguy]

Elon hasn’t invented anything himself. He is simply an aggregator of money and people. He just happens to take credit for everything his employees create. Isn’t that nice…

And Steve…? You could apply the same logic to him. There’s a reason men like Woz didn’t build Apple (with all due respect to him).

 

[tripsync]

Elon hasn’t invented anything himself.

Easily disproved.

Elon Musk Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications - Justia Patents Search

USPTO patent applications submitted by and patents granted to Elon Musk

patents.justia.com

 

[tripsync]

What I observe is that the ratio of "people talking about Elon haters" to "actual Elon hating" is like 8 to 1.

I observe the inverse.

Guess you have to actually count the posts if you really want to prove me wrong.

 

[JoeG4]

elon haters going to boycott iphones now? lol imagine being this angry at elon

SpaceX isn't providing the satellites or the service, they're providing the launch. They do make the launches a lot cheaper, but they didn't make anything about the globalstar network.

It would be kinda ridiculous to boycott an iphone because the SOS network uses satellites that were launched by spacex. That's like... boycotting taco bell because it turns out someone noticed UPS delivers paper supplies to the local taco bell or something. lol.

Pretty sure the opposite is true.

I don't think this is the appropriate subforum for that topic.