Qualcomm's Snapdragon Satellite Feature Cancelled Due to Lack of Interest from Smartphone Makers

By Shakir Bukhari


Qualcomm and Iridium have terminated their agreement to offer satellite texting on Android phones. The Snapdragon Satellite feature was announced in January, but no smartphone makers signed up to use it. Iridium said it will now work directly with smartphone makers, mobile OS developers, and other chipmakers. Qualcomm said it will continue working with Iridium on “standards-based solutions” to satellite connectivity.



The cancellation of Snapdragon Satellite is a setback for Qualcomm's efforts to bring satellite connectivity to Android phones. However, it is not clear whether this is a temporary setback or a sign that the market for satellite connectivity is not yet ready.



One possibility is that smartphone makers are simply waiting for the 3GPP Release 18 5G standard for satellite communications to be finalized before committing to any particular solution. This standard is expected to be finalized in 2023, and it is likely to provide a more open and interoperable approach to satellite connectivity.



Another possibility is that smartphone makers are simply not convinced that there is enough demand for satellite connectivity to justify the cost of adding the necessary hardware and software to their devices. Satellite connectivity is still a relatively new and expensive technology, and it is not clear how many consumers are willing to pay a premium for it.



Despite the cancellation of Snapdragon Satellite, there are still a number of other companies working to bring satellite connectivity to smartphones. For example, Apple has already announced that its iPhone 14 lineup will support satellite connectivity for emergency services. SpaceX is also developing a satellite-based internet service that could be used to provide broadband connectivity to smartphones and other devices.

Shakir Bukhari

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/1085388718508013

Comments

  1. Data & StatisticsNovember 12, 2023 at 2:48 PM

    The failure of Snapdragon Satellite to gain traction with smartphone makers suggests that there is still some uncertainty about the future of satellite connectivity in consumer devices. However, the fact that Qualcomm is continuing to work on standards-based solutions is a positive sign. It suggests that the company believes that satellite connectivity will eventually become a mainstream feature in smartphones.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 13, 2023 at 10:27 AM

    Nice post

    ReplyDelete

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