Android 15 May Feature a Satellite Emergency Messaging System
Google may be working on a beta version of its Google Messages app that supports satellite messaging, following in the footsteps of Apple , which already has a similar feature.
In the Google Messages beta (version 20240329_01_RC00), 9to5Google pointed out the following lines of text that indicate an upcoming emergency messaging feature:
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“To send and receive, stay outside with a clear view of the sky.”
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“Satellite messaging may take longer and may not include photos and videos.”
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“You can send messages to anyone, including emergency services.”
Apple’s version of satellite messaging, called Emergency SOS via Satellite , allows you to send text messages to emergency or roadside assistance when you don’t have cellular or Wi-Fi coverage or can’t dial 911. Google’s implementation appears to be able to work similar to Apple’s implementation.
The only thing different about Google’s version of satellite messaging, if the lines above actually work, is that it appears you can message other people in your contacts, not just emergency services. In theory, in an emergency, you could send a message via satellite to emergency services, as well as your friends and family, to let them know what’s going on.
We’ll learn more about this potential new feature in the coming months, as Android 15 will likely launch in the fall, sometime around the launch of the Google Pixel 9 series.