Apple has been on a roll with its satellite tv for pc companies over the previous three years. Since launching Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc alongside the iPhone 14 lineup in 2022, new satellite-based companies have been added with every annual iOS launch, and it doesn’t appear to be this yr will likely be an exception, with experiences that Apple plans so as to add Climate into the combination.
Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc was first switched on in iOS 16.2 in November 2022. Nevertheless, solely the iPhone 14 fashions had the required satellite tv for pc radios to benefit from it; in contrast to Starlink, Apple’s companies use conventional L-band and S-band satellite tv for pc frequencies.
Naturally, all iPhone fashions that adopted included these satellite tv for pc capabilities, however Apple didn’t cease at Emergency SOS. That preliminary launch additionally included the flexibility to report your location within the Discover My app through satellite tv for pc. Then, in 2023, iOS 17 launched Roadside Help through satellite tv for pc, and final yr’s iOS 18 launch gave us an much more sensible function: Messages through satellite tv for pc.
That’s not unhealthy for a communications service Apple nonetheless technically affords totally free. The one value of entry is an iPhone 14 or later; all the things else is able to go at no further value — for now, at the least.
Apple has left the door open to finally charging for these companies. When it introduced Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc, it stated it might be “free for 2 years after the activation of an iPhone 14.” That very same deal was later prolonged to newer fashions, all of that are satellite-capable, in addition to Roadside Help and Messages through satellite tv for pc.
Nevertheless, regardless that the iPhone 14 was launched almost three years in the past, Apple has but to cost for its satellite tv for pc companies; in November 2023, it introduced that it might lengthen the free satellite tv for pc options into late 2025. It additionally hasn’t introduced a pricing mannequin, so it is going to be attention-grabbing to see what it does this fall when each iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 early adopters attain the top of the trial interval.
Whereas it’s not exhausting to think about Apple persevering with to supply the Emergency SOS side of the function at no further cost as a consequence of its essential worth in serving to to avoid wasting lives, options like Messages through satellite tv for pc seem to be an eminently chargeable function, and if rumors are true, iOS 26 goes to go even additional in that route.
Whereas Apple hasn’t supplied any official phrase on this, and I can’t discover it within the first iOS 26 beta, the oldsters at Macworld have found references within the code that recommend iPhone customers will be capable of obtain “Climate Updates through Satellite tv for pc” once they’re in any other case off the grid.
There isn’t a lot info past a couple of code strings, however these are sufficient to recommend Apple is engaged on one thing. It will possible work the identical as different satellite-based options, requiring you to be open air and capable of level your iPhone on the sky to lock onto a satellite tv for pc earlier than you’ll be able to obtain a climate replace, however it’s not exhausting to see the way it might be a useful function for individuals on long-distance out of doors treks the place excessive climate situations might be an issue.
Even when Apple is able to roll this out in iOS 26, its scope should still be restricted. Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc took some time to increase past the US and Canada, however it’s since expanded to fifteen different international locations. That’s as a result of Apple nonetheless must companion with the required emergency companies organizations to allow them to reply the calls. Roadside help and Messages through satellite tv for pc have additionally been sluggish to roll out past North American shores for a similar causes — even messaging requires gateways because the messages are processed by Apple’s satellite tv for pc community earlier than they’re delivered to the carriers, which must know to ship any replies again alongside that very same path.
Nonetheless, as a passive service, climate updates might grow to be one of many first satellite tv for pc options to roll out extra globally. Apple already gives the info for the Climate app, so it shouldn’t be a stretch for it to ship that very same knowledge through a satellite tv for pc connection.
Apple could also be planning to attend till the autumn to announce the brand new satellite tv for pc climate function so it might probably achieve this alongside the Apple Watch Extremely 3. This yr’s premium wearable is rumored to be gaining satellite tv for pc connectivity, and climate experiences seem to be a pure match for an Apple Watch Extremely, the place out of doors adventurers might get the newest climate updates with a look at their wrist irrespective of how far-off they’re from civilization.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]