Overview
- Apple is developing satellite-powered Apple Maps to enable navigation without cellular or Wi‑Fi, according to Bloomberg.
- Messages via Satellite is slated to support sending photos, expanding beyond today’s text-only capability.
- Engineers are working on “natural usage” so iPhones can maintain satellite links in a pocket, a car or indoors without pointing at the sky.
- Future iPhones are expected to add 5G NTN support to let carriers extend coverage via satellites.
- The effort requires Globalstar infrastructure upgrades; Apple also plans a third‑party satellite API, expects advanced features to be paid, and has no current plans for calls, video chats or web browsing over satellite.