Apple Leads Global Market for Satellite-Connected Smartphones

Apple remains the apical shaper of satellite-capable smartphones globally, with specified devices projected to scope 46% of each smartphone shipments by 2030, according to a caller study from Counterpoint Research.


The firm's Smartphone Satellite Connection Report finds that Apple kickstarted the outer telephone inclination erstwhile it partnered with Globalstar to bring Emergency SOS via outer to the iPhone 14 successful 2022 and has maintained a wide pb since. Samsung leads the Android ecosystem, portion Huawei and Google besides travel a proprietary approach. Other Android players, including Xiaomi, OPPO, HONOR, and vivo, person aligned with the 3GPP non-terrestrial web (NTN) modular to alteration broader scalability and interoperability.

The marketplace is presently dominated by the premium segment, with the deficiency of compelling mundane usage cases limiting broader adoption. 3GPP Release 17 supports lone SOS messaging and basal determination sharing. Release 18 is expected to grow adoption further crossed premium brands, but mass-market penetration successful the mid-price conception is not anticipated until Release 19.

Qualcomm leads among Android vendors with its Snapdragon X80 and X85 modems, with MediaTek, Samsung, Google, and Huawei each expanding competition. North America is the starring portion for adoption, driven by bearer partnerships including T-Mobile with SpaceX, AT&T with AST Mobile, and Rogers with SpaceX, alongside Apple's Globalstar arrangement. Amazon's acquisition of Globalstar is seen arsenic a notable development, perchance opening caller connectivity-as-a-service gross streams.

Counterpoint expects Apple, Google, and Samsung to pb successful wide marketplace penetration toward 2030, with Android brands targeting entry-level and mid-range terms points seeing slower uptake. Apple precocious agreed a new outer woody with Amazon pursuing its acquisition of Globalstar, and has several caller outer features successful development, including Maps via satellite, photos successful Messages via satellite, and a outer API for third-party apps.
This article, "Apple Leads Global Market for Satellite-Connected Smartphones" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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