It’s already the end for Snapdragon Satellite, Qualcomm’s emergency satellite communications project! Ignored by smartphone manufacturers, the solution was buried before seeing the light of day, leaving Apple alone in this sector!
Satellite calls on an Android smartphone aren’t coming soon! While Google missed the boat for a release in Android 14, it is the turn of Qualcomm’s communication tool, Snapdragon Satellite, to experience setbacks. HAS barely ten months after its announcement, the project is already dead and buried… In A press release, Iridium, Qualcomm’s partner in the deployment of satellite connectivity on Android, announces the dissolution of the partnership with the chip manufacturer from December 3. As a result, no Android mobile will embed its solution in the near future. The reason ? A blatant lack of interest on the part of manufacturers. “Despite demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology, smartphone manufacturers have not integrated the solution into their devices”, explains Iridium. In a press release relayed by the CNBCQualcomm for its part evokes the desire of Samsung and company to rely on a universal standard rather than on technology belonging to a company, even if brands like Honor, Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi had announced their intention to operate Snapdragon Satellite during MWC Barcelona in February 2023.
Everything is not dead yet. The chipmaker plans to continue working with Iridium on a universal standard, “while interrupting efforts on the proprietary solution.” As for Iridium, the end of its agreement with Qualcomm allows it to establish new relationships with device manufacturers. “While I am disappointed that this partnership did not bear immediate fruit, we believe the industry’s direction is clear toward increased satellite connectivity in consumer devices”, said Matt Desch, CEO of Iridium. Additionally, Google has committed to natively supporting satellite calling with future versions of Android. For its part, Huawei has already been offering an emergency call and SMS service via satellite in China since the end of 2022. Samsung also seems to be working on the subject. So be patient!
Snapdragon Satellite: a technology expected like the messiah
Satellite communication is undoubtedly the innovation that is becoming essential on high-end smartphones. It allows texting regardless of location and circumstances, including in white areas that are not covered by the wireless network – such as a huge national park or a very large body of water – and does not therefore receive no signal, or in areas where weather and geography impose technical challenges and high costs for installing relay antennas. It can also prove lifesaving in emergency situations, in the event of a natural disaster for example, when terrestrial communications networks are out of service (see our full article on the subject).
After Apple, which got the ball rolling at the end of 2022 by integrating this emergency communication system into its latest iPhone 14 – which has already saved the lives of several people – we were all impatiently waiting for Android smartphones to be able to benefit from it. HAS At CES 2023 in Las Vegas, Qualcomm, the processor and mobile connection specialist, unveiled its service with the unequivocal name, Snapdragon Satellite, which was to inaugurate the availability of this type of function on a wide range of smartphones Android. The mobile chip specialist planned to rely on the satellite network of Iridium and Garmin Response, the professional emergency response coordination center of the connected watch specialist, as well as on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, its very high mobile SoC of range.
Snapdragon Satellite: send and receive messages anywhere, anytime
One of the big advantages of Snapdragon Satellite, if we had to compare it to Apple’s system, would have been that the user could have enjoyed it anywhere and at any time, provided they had a piece of sky above him. Indeed, the Apple firm collaborates with Globalstar and its 24 satellites, which depend on ground relay stations to be able to communicate data. This can prove problematic if the user needs help while their boat is sinking in the middle of the Pacific Ocean or if they are located in an area where there are no relays at ground for satellites used by Apple. In addition, the emergency SOS function of the iPhone 14 is limited to only a few countries – including France.
Iridium, for its part, has no less than 66 satellites – plus 9 backup – located at a lower altitude and which form a constellation including inter-satellite communications – that is to say they communicate with each other. Therefore, they are capable of transmitting data anywhere in the world, without the geographic limitations that come from relying on relays. Matthew Desch, CEO of Iridium, assured last January that his network allows the satellite communication service to operate at its full potential. “Our LEO satellites [NDRL : en orbite terrestre basse] “Advanced systems cover all parts of the globe and support low-power, low-latency connections that are ideal for satellite communications services.” he promised. The only condition: have a smartphone equipped with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip – Qualcomm’s high-end SoC – and the Snapdragon X70 modem.
In theory, Snapdragon Satellite was intended to be easy to use. Thus, the smartphone would have indicated to the user the direction in which it should have been oriented in order to properly capture a signal – therefore towards the nearest satellite. He could then have sent an SMS – with an unlimited number of characters and emoji, but no photo or video, or audio call – not only to the local emergency services – via a dedicated application – but also to one of its contacts – via a standard application, like WhatsApp for example –, where Apple limits itself to emergencies.
Snapdragon Satellite: a communication service superior to that of Apple?
On paper, Snapdragon Satellite seemed technically superior to Apple’s emergency communications system. But contrary to that of Apple, which is already thought out and operational from A to Z, what Qualcomm offered was not a full-fledged service which would be directly provided to the user, but a technology made available to its various partners for devices that integrate its chip. Thus, it is the manufacturers, operators and messaging services (WhatsApp, Messenger, running applications, etc.) who should have decided on the implementation, the use, its limitations, the interface and especially the — high — cost of such a service. Therefore, the service would have varied from one manufacturer to another.
Apple, on the contrary, has already completely integrated this service into its iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. The user answers different questions — Is it a car accident, unwell or an injury, a fire or a crime? Are you lost or locked in? Are you the only one affected, is it someone else or several people? Do you have pain or injuries? — in order to send a pre-recorded message in the terminal which automatically integrates the GPS position. He can also attach his medical form which will have been previously recorded in his device. Everything has been thought of and implemented, from software integration to the ease of subscribing to a protection plan – the offer is free for at least two years. Also, to compete with Apple, Qualcomm partners who would have chosen to offer Snapdragon Satellite would have had to create a software offer as well as a technical and commercial offer adapted to each country where they operate. Needless to say, it was far from won…