Apple plans to develop new satellite features for the iPhone, including the use of offline maps.

On November 11th, according to Global Times, Apple is advancing a series of new satellite connection features aimed at enabling iPhones and some Apple Watches to perform more advanced tasks even without a cellular network.

Well - known technology journalist Mark Gurman also mentioned in the recently disclosed satellite internet strategy that Apple has been formulating for nearly a decade that the iPhone to be launched next year will support 5G NTN (Non - Terrestrial Network) technology, further expanding the user base for this technology.

It is reported that Apple is developing a series of brand - new satellite - driven features for the iPhone, and their application scope will be significantly expanded, far beyond the existing emergency messaging and roadside assistance services.

People familiar with the matter revealed that the features under development include offline maps, image transmission, and third - party access.

Currently, when iPhone and Apple Watch users are in areas without network signals, the map navigation function often fails to work properly, causing a lot of inconvenience for travel. In the future, with satellite connection, users can easily access map information even in areas without ground networks, including uninhabited areas.

Apple also provides an application programming interface (API) for third - party applications to use satellite connection. This move means that Apple allows developers to voluntarily integrate satellite connection features into their applications, creating more innovative applications for iPhone users.

For example, outdoor adventure apps can use satellite communication to achieve real - time location sharing and emergency assistance in remote areas without ground network coverage; scientific research apps can use satellite data transmission to conduct field data collection and monitoring. This will greatly enrich the iPhone's application ecosystem and provide users with more diverse service options.

It should be noted that not all features and services are compatible with this API framework. Developers need to make adjustments and optimizations according to specific circumstances during the integration process.

However, Apple doesn't seem to have plans to enable functions such as phone calls, video calls, or web browsing via satellite.

According to Mark Gurman, Apple started to plan its satellite business about 10 years ago and poached two top satellite engineers from Alphabet, Google's parent company, to explore the possibilities in this field.

In 2022, Apple launched the emergency SOS feature on the iPhone 14, allowing users without cellular signals to contact emergency services via satellite. In 2023, Apple partnered with third - party partners to launch satellite - based roadside assistance services. In a recent update, the satellite messaging function on the iPhone is no longer limited to emergency situations. These features are currently still free for all users.

But it is reported that in the future, Apple plans to let users pay satellite operators directly for more advanced features. This move might be a sign of Apple's further deepening of its layout in the satellite communication field. By introducing a paid model, Apple can establish a closer partnership with satellite operators, obtain more resources and technical support, and thus bring richer and more powerful satellite features to users.

This article is from "Jiemian News", author: Peng Peng. Republished by 36Kr with permission.