Apple Teams Up with Amazon to Boost iPhone Satellite Features
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Apr 14
Apple Teams Up with Amazon to Boost iPhone Satellite Features
57 articles · Updated · Reuters · Apr 14
Apple shares rose after Amazon acquired Globalstar and announced a partnership with Apple to enhance iPhone satellite features.
Four new satellite capabilities are expected, including 5G over satellite, Apple Maps support, photo messaging, and a developer API for satellite connectivity.
These improvements could strengthen Apple's competitive position in mobile communications and offer users faster, more versatile satellite services on future iPhones.
While satellite news boosts Apple's stock, what does the foldable iPhone delay signal about its innovation pipeline?
With full service years away, what can the iPhone 18's satellite connection really do this fall?
Apple's new satellite features won't be free. What will constant connectivity from space actually cost you?
By betting on Amazon's network, is Apple ceding too much control in the satellite race against SpaceX?
Is the race for global satellite connectivity creating an unavoidable space debris crisis?
Amazon Leo's $11.57B Globalstar Buy: A Game-Changer in the Satellite Internet Market
Overview
Amazon's $11.57 billion acquisition of Globalstar marks a major step to accelerate its Amazon Leo satellite network and challenge SpaceX's Starlink dominance. By gaining Globalstar's satellite operations and valuable spectrum, Amazon can quickly launch direct-to-device (D2D) services that connect standard smartphones without special hardware, with a planned rollout in 2028. The deal also secures a key partnership with Apple, ensuring continuity for satellite features like Emergency SOS on iPhones. This move reshapes the satellite internet market, intensifies competition, and drives innovation, while regulatory approvals and ambitious satellite deployment deadlines remain critical challenges for Amazon's success.