Sep 04, 2023 15:00:00

Globalstar and Elon Musk's SpaceX sign 9.3 billion yen deal to launch satellite for iPhone's emergency SOS feature

Globalstar, an American satellite communications company, is investing $64 million (approximately 9.3 billion yen) with SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer whose CEO is Elon Musk, to launch a satellite for '

Emergency SOS ,' an emergency contact service for iPhone. I found out that they had a contract.

Globalstar hires SpaceX to launch satellites | Business News | nola.com
https://www.nola.com/news/business/globalstar-hires-spacex-to-launch-satellites/article_e00a5ebe-482e-11ee-9b68-8f4354d91d75.html

SpaceX sending iPhone Emergency SOS satellites to space

https://9to5mac.com/2023/09/01/spacex-iphone-emergency-satellites-globalstar/

According to

documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States on August 30, 2023, Globalstar and SpaceX signed a contract for regular satellite launches on August 28. This will result in Globalstar paying SpaceX $64 million to launch satellites into space by 2025.

The satellites launched by Globalstar are said to be used to support the emergency SOS service provided by Apple to iPhone users. In 2022, Globalstar received a loan from Apple to purchase an emergency SOS satellite.

Apple invests 60 billion yen in emergency SOS function using satellites - GIGAZINE

This is not the first time that Globalstar and SpaceX have collaborated; Globalstar has also launched satellites through SpaceX when it launches its Emergency SOS service in 2022.

Emergency SOS using satellite communication is currently available in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Portugal, but the target area will expand with the launch of new satellites. It is expected that there is a possibility that

According to overseas news media 9to5Mac, Apple has acquired a patent for ``satellite communication via transceivers and antennas'' in 2022. This could add various types of media features such as streaming, video data, and calls to Emergency SOS, which provides emergency calls and text-based contact to emergency contacts, 9to5Mac said. pointed out.

Globalstar just announced that former Qualcomm executive Paul Jacobs will become its next CEO in late August 2023. Mr. Jacobs launched Xcom Labs, a wireless communications venture after leaving Qualcomm, and it has been reported that his selection may be due to moves toward integrating satellite services and terrestrial communications services. Ta.