Snapdragon Satellite uses the satellite network from the Iridium company to be able to send short messages in the style of SMS or instant messages even when the user of the smartphone is in remote locations or simply cannot access the mobile network . Only the view of the sky must be free.
Simply point to the sky: This is how Snapdragon Connect is supposed to work
The prerequisite is that the smartphone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor and its integrated X70 modem. In addition, a few more radio modules from Qualcomm must be on board to enable communication via satellite, although these are likely to be integrated in most smartphones with the US company’s latest high-end SoC.
Emergency calls first, later ‘Premium Messaging’
As in Apple messaging via Snapdragon Satellite should initially only be used as an emergency call function, but later it will also be used for “normal” communication for customers such as sailors or expedition members. However, some details are still open as it depends on the respective device manufacturers and the service providers how they want to make Snapdragon Satellite available to the users.
Snapdragon Connect relies on its own app that guides the user
For the emergency call function, you work together with Garmin and use their Garmin Response offer. So if the user sends an SOS message, the employees at Garmin’s emergency center can immediately see the coordinates of the location and then decide how to react in the respective situation. If necessary, they contact authorities or other helpers in order to provide assistance as quickly as possible.
Network operators & OEMs should enable premium services
In the long term, however, Qualcomm also wants to offer “premium messaging” via Snapdragon Satellite, whereby its implementation depends on device manufacturers, network operators and other service providers who have to create corresponding offers. It is also still unclear how high the costs will be. But at least the emergency call functions should be able to be implemented free of charge or at low cost.
Qualcomm relies on the Iridium satellite network
The handling of emergency calls should be similar to Apple’s SOS function iPhone 14 models function. A corresponding app guides the user to align the smartphone correctly in order to reach one of the Iridium satellites. The software on the phone should also always know exactly where the satellites are in their orbits in order to be able to quickly find the right “receiver” for which GPS and other data that can be determined on the device should be used. According to Qualcomm, it should take three to ten seconds for a message to be sent successfully. The company wants to limit itself to messaging functions such as emergency messages. So no internet access or telephony via satellite is planned, because external antennas would be required for this.
Because Qualcomm cooperates with Iridium, the services should work practically anywhere in the world. This is different with Apple, because availability is limited to certain countries due to the use of the satellite operator Globalstar. One of the benefits of Iridium’s network is just that: the satellites also communicate with each other.
Snapdragon Satellite should be available on the first devices in the second half of 2023.
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