Kuo: iPhone 13 to support LEO satellite communication, allowing users to make phone calls and send..

[steve2470]

https://9to5mac.com/2021/08/29/kuo-iphone-13-to-support-leo-satellite-communication-allowing-users-to-make-phone-calls-and-send-texts-without-cell-signal/

In an investor note, Ming-Chi Kuo today said that he expects the upcoming iPhone 13 models to feature a low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communication mode. This would allow an iPhone 13 user to send messages and make phone calls, even when they are not within standard 4G/5G cell tower coverage.

Bloomberg first reported Apple’s investigations into using satellite technology to beam data to iPhones in a story from 2019. However, this is the first time we have heard that the feature is coming as part of the 2021 iPhone 13 lineup.

In the future, Kuo speculates that LEO satellite communication may also be used by the upcoming Apple AR headset, the Apple Car and other Internet-of-Things accessories.

Kuo says that the iPhone 13 will use a customized version of the Qualcomm X60 baseband modem chip. This chip will support communications over satellite.

If Mr. Kuo is correct, this is pretty huge. I say that, even as a non-Apple person.

https://www.macrumors.com/guide/ming-chi-kuo/

Ming-Chi Kuo is an analyst at TF International Securities, a financial services group in the Asia-Pacific region. He gathers intelligence from his contacts in Apple's Asian supply chain, translating the information he gleans into research notes for clients.

His research notes often provide a solid look at Apple's future plans and while he is not always correct, his predictions on future Apple products are accurate enough to make him one of the most reliable sources for Apple rumors. Kuo previously worked for KGI Securities, Concord Securities, and DigiTimes.

[DSandra]

1. I was disappointed when wireless communications didn't progress in efficiency past the old beepers..

That got popular in the early 90s. Those were/are satellite powered and I was disappointed that cellphone technology didn’t progress to satellite connections (mainstream at least.) This is a game changer I agree.