Overview
- An APK teardown of Samsung Messages v16.1.02.2 exposed internal code referencing a 'Satellite Mode'.
- The satellite-mode strings were first integrated in version 15.5.31.9 in December 2024 and have not been updated since.
- In 'Satellite Mode', only standard SMS can be sent or received, with Rich Communication Services and multimedia attachments disabled.
- Samsung announced in January 2025 it will transition users to Google Messages, signaling a shift away from its proprietary app.
- Despite growing carrier and OEM support for satellite texting, the dormant code suggests Samsung’s feature remains speculative without further development or official confirmation.