Apple launched its iPhone 14 lineup on Friday. One of many main new options is the power to hook up with satellites to ship emergency messages when there isn’t any WiFi or mobile knowledge connection.
Apple mentioned earlier this month that the iPhone 14 fashions include new {hardware} that makes attainable the emergency message service, which Apple plans to activate with a software program replace coming in November. Apple didn’t give particulars concerning the satellite-specific {hardware}.
iFixit, a San Luis Obispo, California-based agency that disassembles iPhones and different shopper electronics to evaluate how simply they are often repaired, took aside an iPhone 14 Professional Max mannequin on Friday, revealing a Qualcomm X65 modem chip.
The Qualcomm chip supplies 5G connectivity for mobile networks however can also be able to utilizing what known as band n53, the frequency band utilized by satellites from Globalstar.
Globalstar earlier this month introduced a deal through which Apple will take as much as 85% of Globalstar’s satellite tv for pc community capability to allow Apple’s new emergency messaging characteristic.
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In a press release to Reuters on Saturday, Apple mentioned there’s extra proprietary {hardware} and software program within the iPhone 14 for the brand new messaging characteristic.
“iPhone 14 contains {custom} radio frequency elements, and new software program designed completely by Apple, that collectively allow Emergency SOS by way of satellite tv for pc on new iPhone 14 fashions,” Apple mentioned in a press release.
Qualcomm didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
