$Apple(AAPL)$ has secured a new patent that hints at its ambitions to roll out more robust satellite communications for future iPhones.
The patent, granted on Wed, 15 Jan 2025, focuses on one of the challenges facing satellite communications - that is, a device like a smartphone can struggle to maintain a connection, given that orbiting satellites stay are in the sky briefly before falling out of view.
As Patently Apple reports, the company's patent proposes a “handover procedure,” ensuring that one communication beam from an orbiting satellite will smoothly transition to a second beam from a separate satellite.
Thus, each satellite functions as a “transparent network relay node,” enabling groups of smartphones to remain connected, Apple wrote in the filing. (see below)
The streamlined handover procedure would be key to enabling voice calls and internet browsing through Apple’s emerging satellite services — something that Cupertino also hinted it was working on in a separate patent granted 2 years ago.
Apple’s Satellite Historical Milestones.
The company first introduced satellite technology in 2022 with Emergency SOS, giving iPhone owners a way to message emergency services in cellular dead zones.
Two years later, In 2024, Cupertino expanded the feature by enabling satellite-based texts through iMessage.
However, in a support document, Apple noted: "Messages via satellite might take a little longer to send. In ideal conditions with a direct view of the sky and horizon, a message might take 30 seconds to send."
In October 2024, to improve the satellite features, Apple invested another $1 billion in satellite communication provider $Globalstar(GSAT)$, its partner on the iPhone satellite features.
Importantly, the funding will be used to deliver more mobile satellite services to Apple and to build a new satellite constellation.
Details about the next-generation constellation are scarce.
But Apple's patent has been designed to work with a variety of satellites at different altitudes, including low-Earth orbiting satellites similar to SpaceX’s Starlink system. (see below)
In addition, the patent suggests the company could design iPhone chips optimized to communicate with its satellite network.
However, Apple isn’t alone in powering satellite connectivity to today's phones. $T-Mobile US(TMUS)$ is starting to power satellite messaging in the US through SpaceX’s cellular Starlink system.
Meanwhile, $AT&T Inc(T)$ and $Verizon(VZ)$ are partnering with startup AST SpaceMobile to also deliver satellite connectivity to consumer smartphones.
My personal view: (mine only)
On 9 Nov 2024, I have posted on Apple’s further investment in GSAT. (click here ! for details)
Back then, the stock price was $1.38 per share.
Fast forward 2 months later, its stock price as of Fri,17 Jan 2025 closing was $1.89 : (see above)
This is a +36.96% gain since November 2024; not too shabby I say.
GSAT is still off its 52-week high of $2.74 per share, way above its 52-week low of $1.00 and has a relatively respectable beta of 0.89.
With an average trading volume of 23,090,40 - it is (to me) a healthy volume.
Investment Inferences ?
Is “satellite” technology one of the possible future-business from 2025 onwards for mobile-telephony ?
As could be seen from above post, it is not just AAPL that is fortifying its resilience by building an alternate communications network for its iPhones, the telcos (T-mobile, AT&T, Verizon) are doing the same thing too.
However, they are playing catch ups to GSAT and of course Starlink (grouped under SpaceX).
As the saying goes - “Better late than never” ! When AAPL eventually extend satellite service to Apple Watch, that will be innovation that Mark Zuckerberg accused AAPL of lacking, no ?
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Do you think “satellite telephony” will be the next big thing for the mobile industry ?
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