Overview
- Amazon announced plans to acquire Globalstar, the iPhone satellite partner, and said it signed an agreement to support Apple’s current and future satellite features pending regulatory approval.
- MacRumors reports the transaction is expected to close in 2027, after which Apple’s satellite functions would run on Amazon low‑Earth‑orbit satellites.
- Separate reporting describes four potential upgrades for upcoming iPhones: 5G over satellite via Apple’s C2 modem, Apple Maps access over satellite, photo sending in Messages, and a developer API for third‑party apps.
- Leaks also mention a simpler way to connect without aiming the phone at the sky, yet Apple has not confirmed any of these features or their timing and availability.
- Today’s iPhones already offer Emergency SOS, Find My, Roadside Assistance, and text messaging over satellite in select countries, which are slower and more limited than what 5G satellite support could enable.