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3mo ago

Apple Reaches Mexico with Satellite Text and Location Services Despite Internal Divisions

Apple’s Globalstar-based satellite texting and location service reaches Mexico despite executive doubts over cost coupled with potential regulatory scrutiny.

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iPhone 13 will reportedly be able to use satellites to exchange calls and texts.
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Overview

  • Apple’s Messages via Satellite and Find My via Satellite now let compatible iPhones send texts and share location via Globalstar satellites in Mexico, free of charge.
  • The services remain limited to emergency SOS, non-emergency messaging and location updates on iPhone 14 and later models.
  • Apple incurs hundreds of millions of dollars in annual satellite costs but has kept the features free for users through at least September 2025 to avoid telecom regulation.
  • Senior executives including Craig Federighi and Adrian Perica are pushing to discontinue the satellite features despite Apple’s $1.7 billion investment in Globalstar’s new satellites.
  • SpaceX has filed legal challenges to Globalstar’s radio spectrum rights that could disrupt Apple’s satellite messaging and location services if successful.