Ming-Chi Kuo: iPhone 14 Ready for Satellite Connectivity

30 AUGUST 2022 - It looks like all we need for satellite communication in iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 is for someone to go in on the deal with Apple. Not kidding.

TF International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo hit with a 10-point Medium post on Monday, full of some stuff that was encouraging and some that was very disheartening. Let’s lead with the good: Satellite communication is good to go for iPhone 14 and, it seems, iPhone 13. The past phone news is kind of surprising. In that point, the analyst says:

I learned that Apple had already completed the hardware development of satellite communication in the iPhone 13. The lack of support is because the business model had not been negotiated.

That appears to be the only sticking point for iPhone 14 as well. Like most, the analyst sees Globalstar as Apple’s most likely satellite partner.

Will the world get a satellite iPhone announcement at next week’s “Far Out” media event? While Apple’s star-studded invitation might make one think so, Ming-Chi Kuo is playing that one safe. “Hard to predict precisely when the iPhone will offer satellite communication service,” writes the analyst, “but I believe it will happen eventually.”

Here’s hoping. I mentioned a disheartening part of his post. The very first point in his list:

The increasing frequency of natural disasters and geopolitical conflicts in recent years will likely make emergency texting/voice services via satellite communication a must-have smartphone feature.

How’s your day going?