Elon Musk Says SpaceX Discussed iPhone 14 Satellite Service With Apple

SpaceX held talks with Apple Inc. about using Starlink connectivity for the iPhone maker’s new satellite features, Elon Musk said.

By:BLOOMBERG
| Updated on: Sep 10 2022, 09:34 IST
Big relief! iPhone 14 can save your life! Satellite connectivity activated
iPhone 14
1/7 Apple has launched four models in the iPhone 14 series – iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. While the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max have the same form factor as their counterparts from last year, the iPhone 14 Plus has been launched as a replacement for last year’s iPhone 13 Mini. (Apple)
image caption
2/7 The iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max have been launched with an all-new notch design with what Apple calls “Dynamic Island”. It is a pill-shaped notch instead of the traditional notch. Apple has changed the UI in iOS 16 to take advantage of this new notch. (Apple)
image caption
3/7 Apple has launched an all-new satellite messaging service for the iPhone 14 series. It will allow users to send messages via satellite even when there is no cell reception in remote areas. Apple calls it “emergency SOS via satellite feature”. (Apple)
image caption
4/7 The pricing for the iPhone 14 has been kept the same as last year. The iPhone 14 is priced at $799 while the iPhone 14 Plus is priced at $899. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have been priced at $999 and $1,099 respectively. Apple will start the pre-orders for the iPhone 14 starting September 9. It will be available in stores starting September 16. (Apple)
image caption
5/7 Apple has also launched an ultra-Apple Watch for adventure enthusiasts who love the outdoors. The Apple Watch Ultra has a built-in compass in its dial and a dedicated Oceanic app for scuba diving enthusiasts. Apple claims nearly 60 hours of battery life in the Apple Watch Ultra. It is priced at a hefty $799. (Apple)
image caption
6/7 Apple has also launched the Apple Watch Series 8 which further improves on last year’s Series 7. Apple claims the watch is swim proof, dust proof and crack resistant. The Series 8 watch also has a crash detection feature to alert emergency services in case of an accident via G-force tracking. It has been priced at $399. Apple has also launched its trimmed down version, the Apple Watch SE priced at $249. All watches will be available starting September 16. (Apple)
image caption
7/7 The tech giant has also launched the second iteration of its Airpods Pro, the Airpods Pro 2 offering personalized spatial audio and a new H2 chip and offering nearly double the amount of Active Noise Cancellation compared to the first gen Airpods Pro. Airpods Pro 2 have been priced at $249 with pre-orders beginning September 9 and store availability from September 23. (Apple)
iPhone 14
icon View all Images
SpaceX has discussed the possibility of using Starlink for Apple's iPhone 14 satellite connectivity feature, says Elon Musk. (AP)

SpaceX held talks with Apple Inc. about using Starlink connectivity for the iPhone maker's new satellite features, Elon Musk said.

The companies have had “promising conversations,” SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Musk said Thursday on Twitter, adding that Apple's iPhone team is “super smart.” It was unclear if the talks were ongoing.

More about Apple iPhone 14
Apple iPhone 14
  • Blue
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
See full Specifications

The comments came a day after Apple announced Emergency SOS via Satellite, which will allow iPhone 14 users to ping emergency services using satellite networks in areas without standard cellular reception. For the service, Apple partnered with Globalstar Inc. to power the satellite infrastructure, the network provider said in a regulatory filing Wednesday.

Also read
Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here.

Apple and SpaceX, whose full name is Space Exploration Technologies Corp., didn't respond to requests for comment.

Last month, Musk's SpaceX and US wireless carrier T-Mobile US Inc. preempted Apple's long-anticipated announcement by revealing that phone users on T-Mobile's network would be able to tap into SpaceX satellites to send text messages in areas without cellular connectivity. The collaboration is dependent on SpaceX launching an upgraded version of its Starlink satellites, known as Version 2.

That partnership, which won't launch until the end of next year at the earliest, will differ from Apple's feature in that it will allow for communication between consumers. Apple's short length satellite texting service is only designed to message emergency responders, the company said Wednesday.

The satellite infrastructure will allow integration with Apple's Find My app, allowing hikers and explorers to be more accurately tracked by friends in areas where GPS or cellular services may not normally work. Satellite Investment Apple's feature is set to launch in November and will be free for two years. The company didn't say how much it would cost after that initial period. Apple is investing hundreds of millions of dollars into Globalstar's satellite infrastructure, the company said. The T-Mobile and Starlink feature will be free.

Starlink is SpaceX's ambitious plan to create a constellation of thousands of satellites, in order to beam broadband internet coverage to the Earth below. The company has roughly 3,000 satellites in orbit at the moment and recently said it has more than 400,000 subscribers.

Musk's companies have never collaborated with Apple, though he did confirm in 2020 that he attempted to sell Tesla Inc. to the technology giant during some of the automaker's darkest days. Apple CEO Tim Cook later said he had never spoken with Musk about such a deal.

Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First Published Date: 10 Sep, 09:34 IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS