Qualcomm just ended the Snapdragon Satellite project. The solution that allows phone calls and sending SMS messages via satellite, shunned by Android smartphone manufacturers, will never see the light of day.
Since the iPhone 14, Apple has integrated a satellite emergency call system. Available in France since the end of 2022, this feature allows users to contact emergency services by connecting to a satellite network. Without cellular network or Wi-Fi, a user can contact emergency services or share their location with a loved one to get help.
The feature quickly gave the giants of the Android world ideas. Google has quickly committed to natively supporting satellite calling with future versions of Android. A line of code in the Google Messages app unearthed last summer also shows that Google is internally testing functionality that relies on a satellite connection. The Mountain View giant is clearly ready for Android manufacturers to integrate features similar to iPhones.
Shortly thereafter, Qualcomm proudly announced Snapdragon Satellite, a technology that turns all smartphones equipped with a Snapdragon chip into terminals capable of sending satellite messages. In contrast to Apple’s solution, Qualcomm relies on technology the Iridium satellite constellation, the biggest heavyweight in the industry.
Also Read: Everything you need to know about Snapdragon Seamless, the Qualcomm technology that dreams of uniting Android and Windows
Snapdragon Satellite disappears due to lack of success
Unfortunately, Qualcomm has just ended the Snapdragon Satellite project. The American company has just announced this the end of his partnership with Iridium. In a press release published on its website, Iridium states that the agreement concluded with Qualcomm expires on December 3, 2023.
To justify their divorce, the two companies point to the lack of interest from Android smartphone manufacturers. Apparently the brands are simple refused to add Snapdragon Satellite to their phones. The manufacturers did not like the solution developed by Qualcomm. However, Qualcomm and Iridium have “successfully developed and demonstrated the technology”:
“Despite this technical success, smartphone manufacturers have not integrated the technology into their devices.”
Freed from Qualcomm, Iridium can now work with phone makers, chip designers and smartphone operating system developers. The company continues to believe in the success of satellite calling and SMS messaging on Android. Iridium states that “the direction of the industry is clearly toward greater satellite connectivity in consumer devices.”
Qualcomm is changing course
Qualcomm, in turn, explains the failure of Snapdragon Satellite with its proprietary approach. In a press release distributed by CNBC, the founder believes that smartphone manufacturers prefer it Rely on a universal standard and not on technology owned by a company. Brands such as Honor, Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi had nevertheless announced their intention to operate Snapdragon Satellite during the MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona in February 2023.
Ultimately, companies showed “a preference for standards-based solutions.” De facto, Qualcomm has changed its tune and plans to continue working with Iridium on a universal standard:
“We plan to continue working with Iridium on standards-based solutions while phasing out efforts on the proprietary solution that was introduced earlier this year.”
Satellite connection on Android lags
With the death of Snapdragon Satellite, satellite connectivity on Android will likely be left behind. We will have to wait for the adoption of a universal standard proposed by Qualcomm or another company, or the development of proprietary technology by an industry giant to benefit from satellite connectivity on Android.
Note that Huawei has been offering an emergency call and SMS service via satellite in China since the end of 2022. The Chinese company is betting on it the constellation Beidou To allow Mate 50 users to send messages via satellite. In addition, Samsung is also working on a satellite communication system. A few months ago, the Seoul giant, which still dominates the phone market, claimed to have developed technology that allows 5G smartphones to use satellite communications. It will be integrated into the group’s future Exynos chips.
Source: Iridium
Originally posted 2023-11-13 10:48:19.